tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10482776958225337092024-03-27T23:53:36.824+00:00paulcanningweb stuff and other ramblingspaulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.comBlogger1249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-51969087235090623242009-10-30T17:42:00.002+00:002009-11-07T17:36:21.776+00:00The many moods of @pauloCanning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH_BrGmmFX6UDMFv7XEmigqSkaMW8me_lWW1fWx8Ecrj6SeQxFxk4vax7OgJPP11VNcOAVnTJb-jy9OOydpbEnTH8eA6P2f-79TEqnIgjXHn9ATg2AI0SlLy7h0pA0ZAQBtj2Waq6y-E/s1600-h/The_Many_Moods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH_BrGmmFX6UDMFv7XEmigqSkaMW8me_lWW1fWx8Ecrj6SeQxFxk4vax7OgJPP11VNcOAVnTJb-jy9OOydpbEnTH8eA6P2f-79TEqnIgjXHn9ATg2AI0SlLy7h0pA0ZAQBtj2Waq6y-E/s400/The_Many_Moods.jpg" /></a><br />
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Twitter has <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/29/twitter-starts-rolling-out-lists-to-everybody-have-you-gotten-yours/">started its mass roll out of lists</a> and I just created my first <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://twitter.com/pauloCanning/pubsecpeeps">of public sector people (and hangers on) I follow</a>.<br />
<br />
I laughed out loud when I clicked through to see I'd been already added onto 28 existing lists - and what those list titles are. <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning/statuses/5292812103">According to</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning/statuses/5292764132">some of</a> my followers, I am alternately:<br />
<ul><li>international </li>
<li>technology </li>
<li>gov-and-local-gov </li>
<li>egov </li>
<li>publicsector </li>
<li>accessibility </li>
<li>tech </li>
<li><b>militant-gays </b> </li>
<li>gov2010 </li>
<li>techpolitics </li>
<li><b>localgoveratti </b> </li>
<li>social-networkers </li>
<li>techies </li>
<li>work </li>
<li>ukgov20 </li>
<li>localgovgeeks </li>
<li><b>skeptics </b> </li>
<li>localgovweb </li>
<li>socialmedia </li>
<li>publicsector </li>
<li>localgov-ish </li>
<li><b>epicvisionaries </b> </li>
<li>politics </li>
<li>media </li>
<li>accessibility </li>
<li>public-sector </li>
<li>it </li>
<li>gov-uk</li>
</ul>Keep 'em guessing is obviously a winning stratagem :]<br />
<br />
Lists are really useful for finding others around a specific topic. <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://listorious.com/" target="blank">listorious.com</a> is a good place to find ones already created and there's ones for top egovernment people, government bodies etc.<br />
<br />
The <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://listorious.com/pauloCanning/pubsecpeeps">one I've created</a> for UK public sector workers and contractors I grew through following links to other's lists in this area. Listorious <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://listorious.com/tags/government">has several others</a> created around the 'government' theme.<br />
<br />
I haven't analysed this but I've noticed that from following my list others have added people found there to their following and hence made connections which they might not otherwise have made.paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-2571438666346522572009-10-28T12:33:00.002+00:002009-10-28T17:34:22.063+00:00Public Sector Web Professionals: where's it at?Interview with me at <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://lgclincoln.wordpress.com/">LocalGovCamp Lincoln</a> by Liz Azyan of <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.lgeoresearch.com/">LGEO Research</a>.<br />
<br />
<object height="270" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7295067&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7295067&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="270"></embed></object><br />
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<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/05/postscript-why-gov-webbies-need.html">Post by me about the new group</a>.paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-67187928450140356982009-10-26T22:22:00.005+00:002009-10-27T02:29:12.710+00:00Twitter insights: Blaine Cooke @ teacampThis is the video I shot (with hand-held Flash camera, someone tweeted about how I managed to keep my hand up for an hour) of <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.crunchbase.com/person/blaine-cook">one of Twitter's creators</a>, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://romeda.org/">Blaine Cooke</a>, visiting Teacamp, a gathering of Whitehall webbies and hangers on. <br />
<br />
Cooke kindly spent a hour answering questions about Twitter - where it came from, is now and where it's heading to. In other words, <b>lots </b>of insider knowledge<br />
<br />
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="390" src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGqknQC" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="410" /></embed>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-90976226165060441912009-10-18T17:37:00.002+00:002009-10-18T17:37:00.357+00:00The fun theoryVolkswagen have launched a left-field marketing campaign through a Swedish agency dedicated, they say, "to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better."<br />
<br />
The two videos released for it so far are very original and have gone viral.<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2lXh2n0aPyw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2lXh2n0aPyw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="410"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cbEKAwCoCKw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cbEKAwCoCKw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="410"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Alongside them they're <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.rolighetsteorin.se/en/">launching a competition</a> about "finding fun ways to change behaviour".<br />
<br />
Apparently 'fun theory' <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://lesswrong.com/lw/xy/the_fun_theory_sequence/">is serious</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Fun Theory is the field of knowledge that deals in questions such as "How much fun is there in the universe?", "Will we ever run out of fun?", "Are we having fun yet?" and "Could we be having more fun?"<br />
<br />
Fun Theory is serious business. The prospect of endless boredom is routinely fielded by conservatives as a knockdown argument against research on lifespan extension, against <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryonics" rel="wikipedia" title="Cryonics">cryonics</a>, against all <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism" rel="wikipedia" title="Transhumanism">transhumanism</a>, and occasionally against the entire Enlightenment ideal of a better future.<br />
<br />
Many critics (including George Orwell) have commented on the inability of authors to imagine Utopias where anyone would actually want to live. If no one can imagine a Future where anyone would want to live, that may drain off motivation to work on the project. But there are some quite understandable biases that get in the way of such visualization.<br />
<br />
Fun Theory is also the fully general reply to religious <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil" rel="wikipedia" title="Problem of evil">theodicy</a> (attempts to justify why God permits evil). Our present world has flaws even from the standpoint of such eudaimonic considerations as freedom, personal responsibility, and self-reliance. Fun Theory tries to describe the dimensions along which a benevolently designed world can and should be optimized, and our present world is clearly not the result of such optimization - there is room for improvement. Fun Theory also highlights the flaws of any particular religion's perfect afterlife - you wouldn't want to go to their Heaven.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/cd46504f-4822-46e5-863f-f95ae69d2d6b/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=cd46504f-4822-46e5-863f-f95ae69d2d6b" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
</div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-76687626696556048932009-10-17T17:38:00.002+00:002009-10-17T17:38:44.160+00:00Now here’s an idea …<object width="410" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3bObItmxAGc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3bObItmxAGc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="410" height="344"></embed></object>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-31759278879658328602009-10-17T11:01:00.003+00:002009-10-17T17:23:03.521+00:00Notes on #janmoir - don't 'blame' Fry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9nPufxKlFl0BVrM9HSLqad2qsLjpRSCx7P55SglK1Bjlt3q5Jov1VItYKrHdjgiWOZzzAL1QHHvAGQlRP1E6lBctojWqrqgm3AZf1cJQ1ENcZAZjuESbFBgkn2iNoecBYBxFhfZekA8/s1600-h/st-george1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9nPufxKlFl0BVrM9HSLqad2qsLjpRSCx7P55SglK1Bjlt3q5Jov1VItYKrHdjgiWOZzzAL1QHHvAGQlRP1E6lBctojWqrqgm3AZf1cJQ1ENcZAZjuESbFBgkn2iNoecBYBxFhfZekA8/s400/st-george1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
I've seen a few media reports now on yesterday's unprecedented new media revolt against the Daily Mail.<br />
<br />
Of all of them <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/16/jan-moir-column-on-stephe_n_323964.html?show_comment_id=32947392#comment_32947392">the Huffington Post's</a> takes the biscuit for 'worst take'. They reckon it's about a fight between the Daily Mail and The Guardian. Seriously. I suspect a showbizzy intern selected their quote heavy, googled contribution.<br />
<br />
A meme in practically all the reports is the role of Stephen Fry. This has now culminated in a Telegraph piece titled '<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/gill-hornby/6349700/Dont-laugh---Stephen-Fry-is-giving-the-orders-now.html">Don't laugh – Stephen Fry is giving the orders now</a>.'<br />
<blockquote>Those, like Fry, who are "deeply dippy about all things digital", argue that the internet is the ultimate tool of democracy. But it could just be that historians – if they are so permitted – might look back on this period as the moment when the techno-savvy few seized control of the minds of the many. <br />
</blockquote><blockquote>The blogger Guido Fawkes seems effectively to run British politics. Ashton Kutcher – actor and tweeter with over three million followers: "life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift" – is our spiritual leader. And Fry? Well, he's bigger than both of them.<br />
</blockquote>Where to start? Iain Dale has a lot more blog traffic than Guido. Not sure what Kutcher's in there for save to keep the 'celeb's rule' idea going (and his Twitter following like that of other Hollywood celebs doesn't seem to translate to followers automatically watching their shows). And as for Fry?<br />
<br />
I was actually dipping in-and-out of the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23janmoir">#janmoir Twitter stream</a> yesterday and very, very few of the tweets were Fry Retweets. Sure, his numbers are huge but the 'Twitosphere' is <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-how-big-is-social-media-watch-this.html">far, far, far huger</a>. Presumably far too huge for most journalist's to get their minds around.<br />
<br />
By 2010, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007271">26 Million (1 in 7) U.S. Adults Will Use Twitter Monthly</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Edited to add</b>: Thanks to to commentator Ian Hopkinson for pointing to some evidence.<br />
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Here's the trendastic tracking of #janmoir<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://trendistic.com/janmoir/_7-days" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JnStaoXHOG8mpyMUGJeBEl6NoKGi_epRuqOlwCYRSZx81UbXouR649x1G1gpiPvzQ9CKqekmc7U5JsAstSI5Scke6Fze4LonCZESLQwUdv0df0qPLshtOsWkLcHBsMQXvIVz0zF0kZs/s400/trendtastic.png" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Showing it peaking at 11am - @stephenfry first tweet on #janmoir was <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/stephenfry/status/4913531605">at 12:27pm</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
What the ubiquitous Fry mentions in their reports are about is a journalistic laziness and the ever-present need for a celeb mention. A real piece of good work would be to actually track #janmoir all the way from where the first rock was thrown out to the furthest reach of the ripples.<br />
<br />
Such as the excellent American analyst <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://neteffect.foreignpolicy.com/">Evgeny Morozov</a>'s tweet:<br />
<blockquote><b></b><span id="timeline_entry_4920767518">notes on the new public sphere: Twitter has shrunk the Atlantic and purely local UK scandals are now global news</span><br />
</blockquote><span id="timeline_entry_4920767518">That's why HuffPost bothered putting Gately on the front page - #janmoir was number one or two trending topic when they woke up, and it had that celeb angle they love. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="timeline_entry_4920767518">It's notable that they've ignored </span>what it by far the most game-changing event on Twitter this week, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/10/mugging-rich-bastard-lawyers.html">#trafigura</a> - something which <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/gill-hornby/" title="Gill Hornby">Gill Hornby</a> in the Telegraph thinks is also down to Mr Fry.<br />
<blockquote>From his palm-top device .. he struck a major blow for press freedom – when the Dutch company Trafigura won an order preventing the press from discussing the impact of its pollutants on the African coast, Fry tweeted the details to his vast audience and the gag was lifted.<br />
</blockquote>Sigh.paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-27622632402108322652009-10-16T18:45:00.003+00:002009-10-16T19:00:42.270+00:00Jan Moir is a heterosexistNow anyone whose reads me knows I like video .. So watch this ...<br />
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<object height="344" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b0Ti-gkJiXc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b0Ti-gkJiXc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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N'kay. All done?<br />
<br />
Jan Moir is a Daily Mail columnist <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1220756/A-strange-lonely-troubling-death--.html">whose printed words</a> have today caused her to reach for her boss' PR agency (because of an Internet revolt that Twitter was at the heart of that <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/16/stephen-gately-jan-moir-complaints">blew up the Press Complaints Commission's website</a>) in order to say she's not what you think she is. <br />
<br />
That is significant. Today was significant. Social media made this happen - apparently the Mail doesn't usually <a href="http://bit.ly/43TwMx" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F43TwMx">respond within hours to outrage at its contents</a>.<br />
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But listen to what Richard Yates, from black experience, is telling you - <b>focus on what they said, not who you think they are</b>.<br />
<br />
And this is very relevant to this situation. The Mail, and others, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.angrymob.uponnothing.co.uk/home/43-somethingmademeangry/615-jan-moir-im-thinking-shes-a-piece-of-shit">publish Moir's sort of rant all the time</a>. In the official 'process' it will be judged on what she <i>said</i>, not who she is accused of <i>being</i>.<br />
<br />
If what we want is what she (and others) write banished from the mainstream, not to silence but to place them firmly on the fringes, then how is that achieved?<br />
<br />
How do we define her words? I ask, is what she wrote heterosexist or is it homophobic?<br />
<br />
Cue Wikipedia:<br />
<blockquote><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexism">Heterosexism </a>is a term that applies to negative attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the norm and therefore superior. <br />
</blockquote><blockquote><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobic">Homophobia </a>(from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is defined as an "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals", or individuals perceived to be homosexual; it is also defined as "unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality", "fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men", as well as "behavior based on such a feeling".<br />
</blockquote>I don't think Jan Moir is about fear, she's about <b>superiority</b>. I think this because that's what she wrote.<br />
<br />
Yates is laying out for us how, exactly, we undermine the sort of power which a Moir (there's a <i>type</i>) wields, especially including their power in claims of 'victim' or 'silencing'. Here's a template, from other minorities, which should be grasped in order to define her as 'fringe', 'extreme', someone who says she's superior.<br />
<br />
Drop 'Moir is homophobic' for 'Moir is heterosexist'.<br />
<br />
That's my contribution to the aftermath of today: Learn from others and be precise in attacking power.<br />
<br />
Make them go look 'heterosexist' up and in the process completely change the coming debate over 'silencing free speech', the 'power of the mob' and the ubiquitous raising of that cop-out phrase 'PC'.<br />
<br />
<i>Thanks to <a href="http://www.jamiepotter.org/">Jamie Potter</a> for inspiration.</i>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-37711726874858563252009-10-15T12:18:00.002+00:002009-10-15T12:31:45.397+00:00Busting the climate deniers via Youtube<b>This post is my contribution to <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://blogactionday.org/"><strong>Blog Action Day</strong></a></b><br />
<br />
Youtube is really really really big. In the US searches on the site are around a quarter of all Google searches.<br />
<br />
In this environment battles range as users debate issues via their own video creations whether via talking head to webcam or produced-up little films. Amongst the hot topics is climate change.<br />
<br />
Peter Sinclair aka <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/greenman3610">greenman3610</a> runs a graphic design and animation studio in Midland, MI and produces the very effectively done 'climate crock of the week' series. An activist and writer for 30 years in the areas of energy and environment, he is best placed to tear to shreds the sort of unscientific, unresearched nonsense on climate change which appears in the media frequently enough to feed a weekly series.<br />
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Battle, on Youtube, often involves DMCA, (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act" rel="wikipedia" title="Digital Millennium Copyright Act">Digital Millenium Copyright Act</a>) claims against a video which usually results in it being removed from YouTube.<br />
<br />
The DMCA, (Digital Millenium Copyright Act), was originally intended to protect copyright owners from internet abuse, but has systematically been used improperly, notoriously by authoritarian religious groups and cults (Scientologists) and people such as creationists, in order to restrain criticism and free speech on the internet.<br />
<br />
This is what happened to Sinclair in July when he criticized and parodied the work of well known climate denier <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Watts" rel="wikipedia" title="Anthony Watts">Anthony Watts</a>, and his "SurfaceStations.org" project.<br />
<br />
Copyright law allows for critical review, parody, and transformational use of material.<br />
<br />
Sinclair filed a 'counternotice' with Youtube, affirming, "under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled."<br />
<br />
Two weeks later Youtube told him, "this content has been restored and your account will not be penalized."<br />
<br />
What the silencing attempt resulted in was greater traffic and visibility for Sinclair's videos. This has also been the case with other great science defenders using Youtube, such as <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Thunderf00t">Thunderf00t</a>, an English-expat who takes apart creationist. <br />
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In his latest piece Sinclair takes on how one of the world's most respected and experienced climate modelers, Mojib Latif's observations in September on natural climate variability were misinterpreted by climate change deniers.<br />
<br />
Ironically, Latif's message was precisely that natural variations in the long term warming might be misinterpreted, by the media, out of ignorance or malice!<br />
<br />
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<br />
Earlier he took on Channel Four's unfortunately resonant film 'The Great Global Warming Swindle'.<br />
<br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/3fd00547-6561-4c4a-9b5a-1ca424b059bf/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3fd00547-6561-4c4a-9b5a-1ca424b059bf" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
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</div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-6571954689238780872009-10-14T17:23:00.000+00:002009-10-14T17:23:09.167+00:00Just how big is social media? Watch thisGary Hayes from <a href="http://www.personalizemedia.com">personalizemedia.com</a> put together this very neat little widget which visualises the hyper-growth in usage of social media.<br />
<br />
<object id="Garys Social Media Count" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="410" height="488" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="src" value="http://www.personalizemedia.com/media/socmedcounter.swf" /><param name="name" value="myMovieName" /><embed id="Garys Social Media Count" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="410" height="488" src="http://www.personalizemedia.com/media/socmedcounter.swf" name="myMovieName" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" quality="high"></embed></object>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-68570588356835305162009-10-13T08:36:00.048+00:002009-10-14T18:18:26.887+00:00Mugging the rich bastard lawyers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trendsmap.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpslMn6w4_BNnfOrDD2ssLAvRAhxdEa917Whjyq0PJ1lLyfj0sVmdOr5Qpi6yDyeEQ5EqVDVuUQWxBO_SBt3Kv2IS9jcBWFUh8yjzLs6NA32EVAxej-wed_Mt50SeJjtR0-2AbGjjjtIE/s400/trendsmap.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a></div>If the <a rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4o3zlR" href="http://bit.ly/4o3zlR">famous media gaggers</a>, the libel law firm Carter-Ruck, scourge of Private Eye, thought they'd scored another famous victory (these guys are <a href="http://www.carter-ruck.com/Lawyers/cv.asp?name=Andrew%20Stephenson&ID=1">big on bragging</a>) suppressing news they hadn't reckoned with social media.<br />
<br />
<strong><strong>#trafigura</strong></strong> is as I type the <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23trafigura">#1 trending topic on Twitter</a> (that's in the whole world). <a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/alexmassie/5417651/british-press-banned-from-reporting-parliament-seriously.thtml">The Spectator has already broken the wall</a> between <a href="http://richardwilsonauthor.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/the-parliamentary-question-carter-ruck-and-trafigura-dont-want-you-to-see/">what the blogs will say</a> and what the print media thinks it can get away with ... and many, many more people are now aware of <a href="http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:70RpXPiDFWQJ:richardwilsonauthor.wordpress.com/+site:richardwilsonauthor.wordpress.com+minton&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk">the very story</a> a very rich set of bastards running a polluting company is paying them - presumably - many millions to kill.<br />
<br />
In a few hours American bloggers will start picking up on the story enmasse. What's Carter-Ruck going to do then? As @<a href="http://twitter.com/elrikMerlin">ElrikMerlin</a> just pointed out to me 'this is Streisand Effect in action' - something which <a href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2007/09/usmanov-all-animals-are-equal-but-some.html">I have blogged about before</a>.<br />
<br />
When <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Uzbekistan">Uzbek</a> billionaire <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_Alisher-Usmanov_GIPI.html">Alisher Usmanov</a> tried the same trick, and created the same effect, it generated this quote from Boris Johnson (one of those inadvertently whacked by Usmanov's 'take-down' action):<br />
<blockquote>We live in a world where internet communication is increasingly vital, and this is a serious erosion of free speech.</blockquote>This is what Carter-Ruck did:<br />
<blockquote><div>The <em>Guardian</em> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/12/guardian-gagged-from-reporting-parliament">has been prevented</a> from reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds which appear to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights.</div></blockquote><blockquote><div>Today's published Commons order papers contain a question to be answered by a minister later this week. The Guardian is prevented from identifying the MP who has asked the question, what the question is, which minister might answer it, or where the question is to be found.</div>The Guardian is also forbidden from telling its readers why the paper is prevented – for the first time in memory – from reporting parliament. Legal obstacles, which cannot be identified, involve proceedings, which cannot be mentioned, on behalf of a client who must remain secret.</blockquote><blockquote>The only fact the Guardian can report is that the case involves the London solicitors Carter-Ruck, who specialise in suing the media for clients, who include individuals or global corporations.</blockquote>This feels like another significant turning point for social media.<br />
<h3>My updates throughout today</h3>Nick Clegg has tweeted 'Very interested concerned about this #trafigura / Guardian story the @LibDems are planning to take action on this'<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tweetvite.com/event/gagcarterruck">Carter-Ruck to be Flash Mobbed</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://robinbrown.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/twitter-panics-over-trafigura/">Twitter panics over Trafigura</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Trafigura was deleted from trending topics, despite the fact it was obviously the top-trending topic. One minute it was top, the next it had vanished. Twitter’s trend explanations were also absent from any topics relating to Trafigura.<br />
<br />
I don’t blame them, British libel laws are notorious for being swingeing, and Carter-Ruck’s efficacy in the area is well-know.</blockquote>[#trafigua has now come back up trending topics]<br />
<br />
@arusbridger #Guardian editor tweets: hoping to get into court today to challenge ban by #carterruck on reporting parliament. Watch this space<br />
<br />
Wikileaks <a href="http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Minton_report:_Trafigura_Toxic_dumping_along_the_Ivory_Coast_broke_EU_regulations%2C_14_Sep_2006">has updated on the report lying behind the attempted Guardian gag</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8304483.stm">BBC finally reporting #guardiangag</a> , fourteen hours after Guardian published.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/6315133/Trafigura-tops-list-of-Twitter-trending-topics.html#">Telegraph peeks out, surveys on #trafigura</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/carterruck">Carter-Ruck are on Twitter</a> (nb: could possibly be imposter). The tweets are unreal:<br />
<blockquote>@carterruck is looking for a new slogan. "Defending the indefensible" #carterruckslogan</blockquote>LibDems <a href="http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16498a">have tabled an urgent question</a>.<br />
<br />
The huge US liberal website Daily Kos <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/12/792575/-#Trafigura:-Kossacks,-we-need-your-help-NOW">is now onto #trafigura</a>.<br />
<blockquote>We want to put the Streisand Effect to work, and make hashtags #carterruck and especially #trafigura the top trending topics on Twitter. Please include these hashtags in your tweets of the next 24 hours.</blockquote>First satirical take: <a href="http://notnews.today.com/2009/10/13/carter-ruck-successfully-preserves-trafiguras-online-reputation/">Carter-Ruck successfully preserves Trafigura’s online reputation</a>:<br />
<blockquote>“We at Carter-Ruck are proud to be so effective in protecting such deserving clients, and look forward to working just as effectively for the reputations of similarly environmentally well-behaved companies around the globe,” said Carter-Ruck’s new directors of marketing George Monbiot and Julian Assange.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=ld2vo" href="http://twitpic.com/ld2vo"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73hZlLYX9ysEUhX8DuWu1GxSo84UxnNAq2nX374aIHZNxwgjIOHauuBymvI5jfjMszkPU5bf6r0H3XTkYXhP8PqM7k6ivLkpd3jFIUK1WhESxm2jxLzjieyp6zAtCB9MNTHZojAO78Xo/s400/35882196.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a><br />
credit: <a href="http://hackcartoonsdiary.com/">@mattbuck_hack</a></div><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/13/guardian-court-parliament-reporting-gag">Guardian reports today's legal action by them</a>.<br />
<blockquote>MP, who Guardian is currently prohibited from identifying, said he would ask the Speaker to consider taking action against Carter-Ruck for contempt of parliament.<br />
<br />
The media lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC said Lord Denning ruled in the 1970s that "whatever comments are made in parliament" can be reported in newspapers without fear of contempt.<br />
<br />
He said: "Four rebel MPs asked questions giving the identity of 'Colonel B', granted anonymity by a judge on grounds of 'national security'. The DPP threatened the press might be prosecuted for contempt, but most published."<br />
<br />
The right to report parliament was the subject of many struggles in the 18th century, with the MP and journalist John Wilkes fighting every authority – up to the king – over the right to keep the public informed. After Wilkes's battle, wrote the historian Robert Hargreaves, "it gradually became accepted that the public had a constitutional right to know what their elected representatives were up to".</blockquote>Ungag the Guardian <a href="http://twibbon.com/join/Ungag-the-guardian">twibbon campaign</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.news.sky.com/boultonandco/Post:8d39aec4-7b6c-4322-b8b2-39ad04559fb6">Sky News Niall Paterson blogs</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Should there be any restrictions placed on the reporting and analysis of what is said (and written) in the Palace of Westminster? I'd argue not, save perhaps for those rare occasions when national security is truly at risk.<br />
<br />
Yet this "sensitive" question appears on the Order Paper and the answer will appear in Hansard.<br />
<br />
Gagged? This journalist is gagging at the court's decision.</blockquote><div style="border: 2px solid black; padding: 3px;">@arusbridger Guardian Editor tweets: Victory! #CarterRuck caves-in. More soon on Guardian. No #Guardian court hearing. Media can now report Paul Farrelly's PQ re #Trafigura</div>Carter-Ruck now under attack on Google Maps<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/places/gb/london/shoe-ln/76/-carter-ruck"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg06-ysnOI-QjjFBMKLmyUvFFUVljGRFVngpfEkXSJi5SJgHZqRvzKCbMJI5eNlv7xUxtCMOH7I6Ilm6U3GK-N4ePoI0jzJ3hJCOMz7mTd8ETnPN4PfxiHBa_xLs2H3Mpvn7KQcaGAXpk/s400/carter-ruck.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a></div><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/13/guardian-gagged-parliamentary-question">Guardian report on lifting of gag</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2009/10/13/the-journalist-and-ngo-collaboration-to-expose-trafigura-toxic-waste-dump/">journalism.co.uk commentary and background</a> on past Carter-Ruck gagging attempts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PressFreedom/">Number Ten petition to the Prime Minister</a>:<br />
<blockquote>We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to enshrine in law the absolute right of the media to report the proceedings of The House in full at all times.</blockquote>Plus <a href="http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/gdiangag">campaign website on same set up</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Tell your MP to stand up for the media’s right to report on politicians in Westminster: e-mail them in two minutes, now.</blockquote>BBC: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8304483.stm">Guardian claims victory on 'gag' </a>:<br />
<blockquote>Newsnight will report on this case and the prevalence of media laws being used by large companies to restrict information on Tuesday 13 October 2009 at 10.30pm on BBC Two.</blockquote>BBC media correspondent Nick Higham for BBC website, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8304908.stm">When is a secret not a secret?</a>:<br />
<blockquote>In the anarchic, anything-goes world of the internet, where freedom of speech is a frequently heard rallying cry, injunctions banning publication of anything are unpopular. This one seems to have acted like a red rag to a bull.</blockquote><a href="http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10014171o-2000331777b,00.htm">Rupert Goodwins for ZDNet UK</a>:<br />
<blockquote>There is no doubt that the events of the past day have been profoundly democratic, entirely in keeping with the Bill of Rights' sweeping away of kingly powers and its assertion of the primacy of openness among the governors of the people. In a parallel universe, attempts to muzzle parliament might be seen as treasonable - but while we'll never have libel lawyers hearing the axe being sharpened in the Tower, the end result - a chilling effect on the silencers - is just as welcome, and welcomingly just.</blockquote>Tweet from @wikileaks : Remember the UK press is STILL GAGGED from saying the toxic dumping report is on WikiLeaks HERE: <a href="http://bit.ly/v5rDJ">http://bit.ly/v5rDJ</a><br />
<br />
James Mackintosh for Financial Times, <a href="http://blogs.ft.com/ft-dot-comment/2009/10/13/people-power-1-carter-ruck-and-trafigura-0/">People power 1, Carter-Ruck and Trafigura 0</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Let’s hope Jack Straw, secretary of state for justice, listens: the trend towards ever-wider gagging orders gives big companies and the rich and powerful yet another way to strangle investigative journalism - as if the overly-restrictive libel and confidentiality laws were not bad enough.</blockquote><a href="http://weblog.greenpeace.org/makingwaves/archives/2009/10/trafigura_background.html">Greenpeace blog on Trafigura</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Oil-trading company Trafigura knew that waste dumped in Ivory Coast in 2006 was hazardous.<br />
<br />
Trafigura had persistently denied that the waste was harmful but internal e-mails show staff knew it was hazardous.<br />
...<br />
The chemical waste came from a ship called Probo Koala and in August 2006 truckload after truckload of it was illegally fly-tipped at 15 locations around Abidjan, the biggest city in Ivory Coast.<br />
<br />
In the weeks that followed the dumping, tens of thousands of people reported a range of similar symptoms, including breathing problems, sickness and diarrhoea.</blockquote><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/ivory-coast-toxic-dumping">More Greenpeace background</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.crowdeye.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUp281YC68trWo-arrwihx9XIWh1OOX8dPAgYnJ90-dKBxM3eS_GaMBSk6HbdWAgunMACXFC4hMW_8swypqpVjEGyXuGmpNqQPXPisdiwqxvX2ybZ7gBVmSXlsTWLRPboDdCoByKVBkI/s400/crowdeye.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a></div>Mark Pack spots an unfortunate quote being served up on the Carter-Ruck homepage and says <a href="http://www.markpack.org.uk/i-think-carter-ruck-might-be-changing-this-quote-dont-you/">I think Carter-Ruck might be changing this quote, don’t you?</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnk9jk4qo0ZPQFXJD7-tNZGyd2Jcar0wr4o6UfqdH37KZOXiVG48dgC1oWaQTmbBDGq61s2Iu5y_se92-Pww8QHvliY1TdwkrJD0TEHvQI8svYFvOSMthv-Y-LR3xpFCLEg4PCBvxuZdc/s1600-h/carter-ruck-website-screens1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnk9jk4qo0ZPQFXJD7-tNZGyd2Jcar0wr4o6UfqdH37KZOXiVG48dgC1oWaQTmbBDGq61s2Iu5y_se92-Pww8QHvliY1TdwkrJD0TEHvQI8svYFvOSMthv-Y-LR3xpFCLEg4PCBvxuZdc/s400/carter-ruck-website-screens1.jpg" alt="" border="0"></a></div>NBC News' <a href="http://twitter.com/AnnCurry">@AnnCurry</a> tweets:<br />
<blockquote>Victims of alledged toxic waste dumping by Trafigura Co. Its legal firm CarterRuck tried to stop this story: http://bit.ly/3jU0vD</blockquote>Ian Douglas for the Telegraph, <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/iandouglas/100003905/context-overcomes-the-law-for-trafigura-and-the-guardian/">Context overcomes the law for Trafigura and the Guardian</a>:<br />
<blockquote>A search in Google News for Trafigura yielded the Guardian’s piece reporting the order, despite the word never being mentioned. So many people had linked to it using the name of the company that there was no need for the Guardian to break the order themselves, as the search engines determine the subject of a page by analysing those that link to it as much as the page itself.</blockquote>Tweet from <a href="http://twitter.com/BristleKRS">@BristleKRS</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Today's twictionary words: 1: to #CarterRuck up; vb tr, to fail in exponential relationship to invoiced fee</blockquote>Tory Politico <a href="http://tory-politico.com/2009/10/independents-story-about-trafigura-goes-offline/">is reporting that</a> The Independent has removed a story, published on September 17, relating to Trafigura’s dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast. The story is still available through <a href="http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:xWAy8_-U9ekJ:www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/toxic-shame-thousands-injured-in-african-city-1788688.html+toxic-shame-thousands-injured-in-african-city&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au">the google cache of the page</a>.<br />
<br />
Techpresident, <a href="http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/internet-toxic-avenger-trafigura-and-ungagging-guardian">The Internet as Toxic Avenger: Trafigura and the Ungagging of the Guardian</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Here you can see how the gagging of the Guardian was rapidly overwhelmed by mentions of Trafigura on Twitter, via Trendistic.</blockquote><a href="http://trendistic.com/carter-ruck/trafigura/guardian/gagging/_24-hours"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://techpresident.com/files/Trafigura%20on%20Trendistic.png" alt="" height="185" width="392"></a><br />
<br />
BBC Newsnight [Video], <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8048626.stm">Dirty tricks and toxic waste in Ivory Coast</a>.<br />
<br />
Philippe Naughton for the Times, <a href="http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6872926.ece">Twitter-power wins gagging victory over Carter-Ruck and Trafigura</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"Wow," said one Twitterer among the deluge of comments. "Never heard of Trafigura before today." </blockquote><br />
Tweet from Guardian Editor @arusbridger : Now support #Newsnight which is being sued by #Trafigura and #carterRuck over toxic waste expose <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pqf4dt">http://tinyurl.com/pqf4dt</a><br />
<br />
[Via <a href="http://www.politicshome.com/">PoliticsHome</a>]: In the Commons this afternoon, Speaker John Bercow was urged to block future legal attempts to prevent the reporting of parliament, or to curtail MPs parliamentary privilege to speak freely.<br />
<br />
Labour MP Paul Farrelly, whose question regarding Trafigura was the subject of the gag, asked Mr Bercow to investigate whether the Trafigura's reprentatives, Carter Ruck, had acted in contempt of parliament.<br />
<br />
Other members, including Lib Dem frontbencher David Heath and former shadow home secretary David Davis, also raised concerns.<br />
<br />
Mr Bercow told MPs he would reflect on the matter, but insisted that the moves to gag The Guardian, which were dropped this afternoon, "in no way inhibited" parliamentary procedure.<br />
<br />
"There is no queston of our own proceedure being in anyway inhibited. If the honorable member wants to pursue this as a matter of principle there is of couse, as he will doubtless know, an established procedure of raising it with me in writing," he said.<br />
<br />
#trafigura has now dropped off the top ten Twitter trending topics.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tweetstats.com/trends"><img src="http://onlinejournalismblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/twittertrends-400x121.jpg" alt="twittertrends" class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-3580" height="121" width="400"></a><br />
<br />
Marc Ambinder for The Atlantic Online, <a href="http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/the_guardian_and_free_speech.php">The Guardian Gets To Speak, But Britain Deserves A Free Press</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>In practice, when compared to, well, almost every other country in the history of the world, Britain's press has flourished. But it has done so without the type of prior right that gives the press in the U.S. its moral force. While the press cannot print anything it wants in either the U.S. or Britain, it is much easier in Britain for an entity to obtain a pre-publication injunction, or for some to win a libel lawsuit, or for parliament to bottle up debate, or for government to prevent journalists from publishing secrets. It is much harder to obtain information from the government. Still, it should be remarked that, believe or not, the Supreme Court of the United States did not formally agree that the government could not prevent the press from revealing "scandalous and defamatory" matter until 1933, in Near v. Minnesota. <br />
<br />
It's not so much that an expressed free press right would have resolved this dispute the right way.We're still debating the limits of the bill of rights in this country. And in the U.K., the right to report on what someone says in parliament -- or on the questions submitted to be answered by a minister of government -- is already established in statute. But the existence of a constitutional right would shift the burden away from the interests with relatively less power than the state, the lawyers and the company.</blockquote><br />
Ian Reeves for Centre for Journalism, <a href="http://www.centreforjournalism.co.uk/blogs/injunction-failed-thanks-twitter">The injunction that failed, thanks to Twitter</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The digital revolution is about to lead to a legal one.</blockquote><br />
Tweet from <a href="http://twitter.com/distanthopes">@DistantHopes</a> : Holy crap. Unless I miss my guess, check out how the disgraced #Trafigura literally had its name wiped from Twitscoop. [YouTube] <a href="http://bit.ly/CVRsI"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cphimsYPzUw&feature=player_embedded#"><img src="http://onlinejournalismblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/twitscoop.jpg" alt="#Trafigura on twitscoop.com" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3583" height="404" width="300"></a><br />
<br />
Associated Press, <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/sns-ap-eu-britain-press-freedom,0,3288807.story">The truth is already out there: Twitter users thwart oil company's attempt to gag media</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>LONDON (AP) — Bloggers and Twitter users thwarted a legal attempt Tuesday to stop Britain's media from reporting the questions posed by a lawmaker in a parliamentary debate, spotlighting the power of new media to influence public policy.</blockquote><br />
Alan Brookland, <a href="http://alanbrookland.com/2009/10/13/my-advice-to-trafigura-just-wait-it-out/">My advice to Trafigura – just wait it out</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Before everyone gets too self-congratulatory, does any of this brief flirtation with online interest ever actually change anything? True, right now, lots of people who had probably never even heard of Trifigura will now be reading up on the dumping story, but, come tomorrow or next week, how many will still remember much about it? The bloggers will chalk up a victory and in this case the gagging order was actually lifted, but this is still an on-going case and nothing will have actually changed.<br />
<br />
Sites like Twitter are excellent for catching a wave and occasionally rallying a large number of people behind a cause, but it’s yet to become the force for social change that it’s being made out to be. Real issues sadly aren’t resolved in an afternoon and a normally more complicated than 140 characters. If social media is really going to make the impact that it could, then we all need to keep an eye on the issues which we find important and persue them, not just jump on while it’s in the news and let it quietly die. Nag your MP, pester the mainstream media and ask the annoying questions, not just when the issue is in the news, but repeatedly. It’s only by proving that we can stay interested in an issue that change happens, otherwise people will just wait till the dust settles and everything will stay the same.</blockquote><br />
[PDF] The <a href="http://blog.indexoncensorship.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Index_guardian_letter.pdf">letter Index on Censorship sent to the courts in support of the Guardian</a>. <br />
<br />
[PDF] <a href="http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=clatterofthelaw.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carter-ruck.com%2FDocuments%2F%2FTrafigura-Press_Release-13.10.2009.pdf">Carter-Ruck statement on behalf of Trafigura</a>.<br />
<br />
Tweet from <a href="http://twitter.com/paulOCanning">@pauloCanning</a> : BBC #Radio4 news *finally (and briefly) reporting #gagcarterruck Fry gets quoted<br />
<br />
Mike Butcher for Techcrunch, <a href="http://uk.techcrunch.com/2009/10/13/theres-nowhere-to-hide-if-your-name-trends-on-twitter-is-there-trafigura/">There’s nowhere to hide if your name trends on Twitter. Is there, Trafigura?</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>With the traditional media gagged, the new media had kicked in. That created a story which plenty of trad media outlets and blogs outside the UK could not ignore and started reporting on.<br />
<br />
In other words, this kind of censorship is over. And I hope that British Libel law will change as a result. It must now move into the 21st Century and reflect new technology. After all, there is now a new defence. Feel libelled? You can defend your case just as much as the other guy online. Except of course if you are dumb enough not to register @carterruck, for instance.</blockquote><br />
Today's UK Parliamentary questions over #trafigura gag order [YouTube] <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_J4ypytxaE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_J4ypytxaE</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_J4ypytxaE"><img src="http://onlinejournalismblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/parliament-400x229.jpg" alt="Point of order on the injunction of the Guardian preventing it from printing a parliamentary question" class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-3582" height="229" width="400"></a><br />
<br />
Guardian, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/13/trafigura-carter-ruck-gag">Trafigura gag attempt unites house in protest</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Labour MP Paul Farrelly told the speaker, John Bercow, attempts by lawyers Carter-Ruck to gag the media could be a "potential contempt of parliament".<br />
<br />
The Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris said there was a need to "control the habit of law firms" of obtaining secrecy injunctions, and his colleague David Heath told the Commons a "fundamental principle" was being threatened: that MPs should be able to speak freely and have their words reported freely.<br />
<br />
On the Conservative side, David Davies criticised the rising use of "super-injunctions", in which the fact of the injunction is itself kept secret. He said courts should not be allowed to grant injunctions forbidding the reporting of parliament.</blockquote><br />
CharonQC, <a href="http://charonqc.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/lawcast-155-the-guardian-gag-affair-with-carl-gardner/">Lawcast 155: The Guardian Gag affair with Carl Gardner</a>.<br />
<br />
Catherine Mayer for Time: <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1930011,00.html">Twitter Triumphant: Attempts to Gag Newspaper Are Thwarted By Tweets</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Twitterers across the world colored their avatars green to show support for the protestors who took to Iran's streets after the country's disputed elections earlier this year. Users of the micro-blogging site might now consider overlaying their avatars with a film of sludge brown as a mark of their spontaneous, collective action to help undermine an attempt by the international oil traders Trafigura to gag a British newspaper reporting on a toxic dumping case.</blockquote><br />
Daily Mail, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220164/Law-firms-Kafkaesque-bid-block-reporting-Parliamentary-question-defeated.html.">Law firm's 'Kafkaesque' bid to block reporting of Parliamentary question is defeated</a> - makes no mention of either Trafigura or Twitter!<br />
<br />
Professional journal The Chemical Engineer has <a href="http://www.tcetoday.com/tcetoday/NewsDetail.aspx?nid=12188">also been served with an injunction by Carter-Ruck for Trafigura</a>.<br />
<br />
Channel Four News report, <a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/parliamentary+question+ban+lifted+/3385402">Parliamentary question ban lifted</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/parliamentary+question+ban+lifted+/3385402"><img src="http://onlinejournalismblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/c4news.jpg" alt="channel four news report" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3581" height="202" width="271"></a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Jon Snow talked to Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger and asked him what had happened after the publication of this morning's paper. <br />
<br />
He told Channel 4 News: "The blogosphere went berserk about a story that we published on our front page this morning, in which we said we can’t report a story for reasons we can’t tell you.<br />
<br />
"After which there was about 16 hours of mayhem out there in the Twitter-sphere; and about an hour before we were due in court we received a letter from the lawyers saying 'we give in'.<br />
<br />
"What has changed was that for the past six weeks we have been faced with an injunction – a so-called super injunction – which not only meant not only could we not tell anyone we had been injuncted, but that we could not mention the company involved either – I think this is a very dangerous phase in English law."</blockquote><br />
Tweet from <a href="http://twitter.com/friendsofdarwin">@friendsofdarwin</a> No mention of #trafigura or #carterruck on BBC 10 o'clock News. 5 minutes about racehorse's retirement. #bbcfail <br />
<br />
Gillian Shaw on canada.com, <a href="http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/techsense/archive/2009/10/13/twitter-backs-newspaper-in-fight-for-free-speech-a-win-for-all.aspx">Twitter backs Guardian newspaper in fight for free speech: A win for all</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Today marked a watershed moment in which social media stepped in to quash an attempt to gag a newspaper.</blockquote><br />
Guardian, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/13/super-injunctions-guardian-carter-ruck">How super-injunctions are used to gag investigative reporting</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Libel lawyers Carter-Ruck and Schillings have proved adept at persuading judges that injunctions should now be granted on privacy grounds. Some tabloid newspapers are being served with "a handful" of such orders each week, according to media lawyers. The Guardian has been served with at least 12 notices of injunctions that could not be reported so far this year, compared with six in the whole of 2006 and five the year before.<br />
<br />
The motivation is straightforward, according to Mark Stephens, a partner at law firm Finer Stephens Innocent. "As the libel and privacy capital of the world, people are coming here [to London] to bully the media and NGOs into not reporting on their nefarious activities," he said.</blockquote><br />
Financial Times, <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b7ab4582-b83c-11de-8ca9-00144feab49a.html">Web’s effect on media law put to test</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Media lawyers, however, focused on the fact that the rulings of UK courts were not enforceable in the US.<br />
<br />
Many of the servers hosting websites such as Facebook and Twitter are based in the US, meaning information cannot be suppressed.<br />
<br />
Keith Ashby, head of litigation at Sheridans, said: “The difficulty is that injunctions cannot readily be obtained in the English courts against overseas internet service providers which would prevent them making the information available.”<br />
<br />
Mr Ashby added: “If people get a whiff that publication of information has been injuncted in the print media, they are getting more canny about how to find the information on the internet.”<br />
<br />
Michael Smyth, head of public policy at Clifford Chance, said: “We should not be surprised that the law finds it difficult to keep pace with technological advance and it is no answer in an era when judges are required to act proportionately to make a blanket order directed at the whole world.<br />
<br />
“It is common practice for an injunction obtained against one newspaper to be copied to the whole of Fleet Street so that the market is aware of its terms and also bound by it. That’s the easy bit. What, however, of electronic publishers offshore about whom one knows next to nothing?” he added.<br />
<br />
Mark Stephens of Finers Stephens Innocent agreed: “The issue with Twitter and SMS [text messaging] is that injunctions are not enforceable as you can’t stop people talking and in any case the servers which host these websites are in the US and outside the jurisdiction of the English courts.”<br />
<br />
He pointed out that the order covering The Guardian was enforceable in England and Wales only, meaning that the Scottish and Irish media could report the parliamentary question.</blockquote><br />
Sunder Katwala on Liberal Conspiracy, <a href="http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/10/13/carter-ruck0-guardian-1-but-what-next/">Carter-Ruck:0 Guardian: 1… but what next?</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>More broadly, wouldn’t it be a good idea to use this enjoyable moment of consciousness-raising to think about how we might sustain our attention and sort out a few deeper issues out too. Others may have a range of ideas. Here are three modest proposals of my own.</blockquote><br />
Mark Pack <a href="http://www.markpack.org.uk/oddities-about-the-trafigura-website-lessons-for-pr/">discovers that Trafigura have pretty dreadful website</a> which says "This website and its contents are not directed at the general public.".<br />
<br />
Tweets from <a href="http://twitter.com/Danoosha">@Danoosha</a> Never seen a thin libel lawyer #newsnight #carterruck #trafigura #fb - <a href="http://twitter.com/Nuxnix">@nuxnix</a> BBCNewsnight #trafigura Slightly disappointing report I think this is the day where news media becomes less relevant to the real-time media<br />
<br />
~~~~~<br />
<br />
On the Wednesday <a href="http://tory-politico.com/2009/10/carter-ruckguardian-injunction-revealed/">Tory Politico reported Carter-Ruck/Guardian injunction revealed?</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>The bellow document is believed to be the secret injunction that would have prevented the Guardian reporting parliamentary proceedings yesterday.</blockquote><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/15524e01-9f97-476b-968d-3beb9e6d146b/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none ; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=15524e01-9f97-476b-968d-3beb9e6d146b" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"></a></div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-4297515332332881222009-10-12T00:55:00.009+00:002009-10-18T16:15:29.627+00:00LGBT history making in DC: Inspirational, evocational, provocational<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI4BlTmW37goU9qYMehZny7OUrdez8cxACyuFOEAm9mNo7qoSt4qd1BHhZXSbsYDpX6n4u1RAjHSo4w270O4LWQGr9QK3eij7fpFsanFvY1d2u8G96uOmEkdMsjhIUKPnjK9vxlDXpXE/s1600-h/35502330-7ba2a88f3f2aee9e825447df8bfec9b7.4ad2439c-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI4BlTmW37goU9qYMehZny7OUrdez8cxACyuFOEAm9mNo7qoSt4qd1BHhZXSbsYDpX6n4u1RAjHSo4w270O4LWQGr9QK3eij7fpFsanFvY1d2u8G96uOmEkdMsjhIUKPnjK9vxlDXpXE/s320/35502330-7ba2a88f3f2aee9e825447df8bfec9b7.4ad2439c-scaled.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>This twitpic from an inter-racial couple was massively retweeted</b></span><br />
</div><br />
Sunday's march for LGBT equality in Washington DC was a non-stop fest of speech making. From the fantabulous youth to the glorious head of the NAACP to 'Let the sunshine in' (and virtually all stops in-between). It was a Call To Action and then some. It made me teary, it would make anyone who believes in civil rights, human rights, teary.<br />
<br />
Here are my tweets (back to front):<br />
<ul><li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a> <span id="msgtxt4792438754"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> 'Let the sunshine in' frm Hair perfect finish</span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4792407793">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/ChefMark" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/ChefMark')" target="_blank">@ChefMark</a> 'A free and Equal people do not tolerate prioritization of their rights. They do not accept compromises' Cleve Jones <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span></li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4792288214"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a> Cleve Jones IS the mountaintop!</span> <br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4792156402">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/MEGAFamily" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/MEGAFamily')" target="_blank">@MEGAFamily</a> Urvashi Vaid: 'Battle for the direction of this country' <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> < she's talkin revolution baby!</span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4792112238">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/jdillman" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/jdillman')" target="_blank">@jdillman</a> <a href="http://twitpic.com/l5wjw" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4792112238')" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=l5wjw" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/l5wjw</a> - <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/jdillman" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/jdillman')" target="_blank">@jdillman</a>, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/jtrybus" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/jtrybus')" target="_blank">@jtrybus</a> #"Homomentum!" <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> < :}}}</span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791933742"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> very moved by Julian Bond citing LG he worked alongside in 60s as reason for his solidairty now</span> </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxscaXZbenSNxwhSdLIF4MUqcS-s72Rw5o-OOJQ770FEvRqtIWdF8mZBqEpo8TD0Rx9JH45-TOGnIUl9D-4jVE8o92eQMC4l54xIkMrYCr93OV7WUcI2Jmt_a6G-2GuZHD8JsNJ95wj8/s1600-h/slide_3137_44409_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxscaXZbenSNxwhSdLIF4MUqcS-s72Rw5o-OOJQ770FEvRqtIWdF8mZBqEpo8TD0Rx9JH45-TOGnIUl9D-4jVE8o92eQMC4l54xIkMrYCr93OV7WUcI2Jmt_a6G-2GuZHD8JsNJ95wj8/s400/slide_3137_44409_large.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<ul><li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791770357"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/SunnyStokes" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/SunnyStokes')" target="_blank">@SunnyStokes</a> I'm right with you! <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> She was inspirational</span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791666154">Who is Staceyann Chin? <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> Jamaican superstar <a href="http://bit.ly/4xatwu" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4791666154')" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4xatwu" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/4xatwu</a> (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="lit" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=pauloCanning#" onclick="decodeUrl(this); return false;">expand</a><img alt="" class=" pdcmsyanqwyrxwixacfd" src="http://search.twitter.com/images/search/expanding.gif?1255111538" style="display: none;" />) It takes a poet </span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791542618">Michelle Clunie quoting Coretta Scott King <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> If she were alive she would be there but NAACP head still to come</span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791489750">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/teebalicious" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/teebalicious')" target="_blank">@teebalicious</a> I'm old enough to remember the Silence = Death days + I am in love with this beautiful sea of <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23LGBT">#LGBT</a> people <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> < say it!</span><br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791385260"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> severe drought of older white men on this platform. This is why it's making such an impact</span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a> <span id="msgtxt4791345169"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/Becky_R" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/Becky_R')" target="_blank">@Becky_R</a> My pleasure! I'm from UK like Billie Myers, watching on C-Span and so moved by <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO44stFW1TygGkxYpZgXPk_bDDOsvc9sQeTF9CFnsrEfvo5HLENpWm9VVj-i-ATyKj6_hMtHLtCEK9woWChsul0LrYx2z9AtLo8P_JPltP4UUxHe-ZSMJD219Q1w4hx2AddWd1r7jO0cg/s1600-h/enhanced-buzz-10788-1255361761-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO44stFW1TygGkxYpZgXPk_bDDOsvc9sQeTF9CFnsrEfvo5HLENpWm9VVj-i-ATyKj6_hMtHLtCEK9woWChsul0LrYx2z9AtLo8P_JPltP4UUxHe-ZSMJD219Q1w4hx2AddWd1r7jO0cg/s320/enhanced-buzz-10788-1255361761-3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<ul><li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791290223"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/Frannyo" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/Frannyo')" target="_blank">@Frannyo</a> nope! <a href="http://bit.ly/PqY7X" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4791290223')" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FPqY7X" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/PqY7X</a> (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="lit" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?max_id=4795804396&page=2&q=pauloCanning#" onclick="decodeUrl(this); return false;">expand</a><img alt="" class=" pdcmsyanqwyrxwixacfd" src="http://search.twitter.com/images/search/expanding.gif?1255111538" style="display: none;" />) <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791204558">Katharine Lee Bates, the lesbian who wrote America The Beautiful <a href="http://bit.ly/1fzxOs" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4791204558')" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F1fzxOs" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1fzxOs</a> (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="lit" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?max_id=4795804396&page=2&q=pauloCanning#" onclick="decodeUrl(this); return false;">expand</a><img alt="" class=" pdcmsyanqwyrxwixacfd" src="http://search.twitter.com/images/search/expanding.gif?1255111538" style="display: none;" />) <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791124115">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/AngryQueer" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/AngryQueer')" target="_blank">@AngryQueer</a> America the Beautiful was written by a lesbian - <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791114240">Hah! Billie Myers just said ficking on C-Span! <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4791016405">Lady GaGa 'Obama: ARE YOU LISTENING!!!!' <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790963557">As LadyGaGa takes stage remember was 11 years ago today, Judy Shepard was watching as Matthew lay in a coma in Fort Collins, Colo. <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a></span> </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQGx5r56vSPWfNpU03EZbMhEOSl6MIYzIT0G0eDDMukG1yPO3i05a2E_5nPcEZz189MoV27Qv5jUbi3g0P1QdRmJ-0NvdEtmlSAn8rZNw-toncGmQ9ebuzmO8yuwNviayvnkF3aRcfIM/s1600-h/enhanced-buzz-10860-1255361536-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQGx5r56vSPWfNpU03EZbMhEOSl6MIYzIT0G0eDDMukG1yPO3i05a2E_5nPcEZz189MoV27Qv5jUbi3g0P1QdRmJ-0NvdEtmlSAn8rZNw-toncGmQ9ebuzmO8yuwNviayvnkF3aRcfIM/s400/enhanced-buzz-10860-1255361536-7.jpg" /></a><br />
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<ul><li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790922813"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> the announcer reminds me of a character from Best in Show</span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790625356">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/unitethefight" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/unitethefight')" target="_blank">@unitethefight</a> Kim Coco Iwamoto, 'Our children are learning to discriminate. Our children are learning how to hate themselves' <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/toastedgrrl" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/toastedgrrl')" target="_blank">@toastedgrrl</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> I related when he spoke about AIDS and what it was like - many there would be remembering (and honouring)<span id="msgtxt4790531046"> </span></li>
<li class="result "><span id="msgtxt4790531046"><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a> BBC reporting already on <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8301791.stm</span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a> <span id="msgtxt4790335854">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/malik_photog" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/malik_photog')" target="_blank">@malik_photog</a> dan choi is a powerful speaker. and WORK for quoting kahlil gibran! <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790312280"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> Dan Choi just read a poem in Arabic. Incredible</span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790227380"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> loudest cheer yet for Judy Sheppard. She is a f*cking saint. 'Evrybody smile. You should be so proud of yrself''</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790121163">Go Cynthia Nixon! <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a></span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmP7FEjiq-AJiH1E-ztqJJfed5nDCh1eCU2bqUukZb53dJbBXlsfZLosmZPOn4xdAbfl6r9TxNUCzOq1TrN6jZvgsXmz2ifFOhQOu_5zRjFI9wa16FYI0EaOhdVw-TWKmnaufVaYnbZ4/s1600-h/enhanced-buzz-10884-1255361500-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmP7FEjiq-AJiH1E-ztqJJfed5nDCh1eCU2bqUukZb53dJbBXlsfZLosmZPOn4xdAbfl6r9TxNUCzOq1TrN6jZvgsXmz2ifFOhQOu_5zRjFI9wa16FYI0EaOhdVw-TWKmnaufVaYnbZ4/s400/enhanced-buzz-10884-1255361500-4.jpg" /></a><br />
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<ul><li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4790009834">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/unitethefight" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/unitethefight')" target="_blank">@unitethefight</a>: More pics of hundreds of thousands on Washington Mall! <a href="http://bit.ly/Zlb40" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4790009834')" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FZlb40" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/Zlb40</a> (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="lit" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?max_id=4795804396&page=3&q=pauloCanning#" onclick="decodeUrl(this); return false;">expand</a><img alt="" class=" pdcmsyanqwyrxwixacfd" src="http://search.twitter.com/images/search/expanding.gif?1255111538" style="display: none;" />) <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> < + Lt. Dan Choi</span></li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789949459"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> Sam Sussman young straight <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23equality">#equality</a> champion speaking is making me tear up! Wow! 'In our America we will not tolerate prejudice'</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789833097">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/hardcorps80204" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/hardcorps80204')" target="_blank">@hardcorps80204</a> "How many more tears must be shed" David Mixner <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789822519"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/toastedgrrl" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/toastedgrrl')" target="_blank">@toastedgrrl</a> David Mixner now speaking <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a> about the reality of AIDS in the 90s. Incredibly moving</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789727769">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/rodmccullom" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/rodmccullom')" target="_blank">@rodmccullom</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23Latino">#Latino</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23gay">#gay</a> youth activist Richard Aviles <a href="http://twitpic.com/l5bpx" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789727769')" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=l5bpx" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/l5bpx</a> //very inspirational < totally!</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789704915"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23socitm09">#socitm09</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/liz_azyan" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/liz_azyan')" target="_blank">@liz_azyan</a> sorry Liz no follow :' <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> LGBT Washington march is history, wonderful, amazing speakers</span> </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN7QxyTgQ3ahG6merw3b1I-SV_UTHFvq01WWEd7WObJJWNMnUdlTHcE58Zp7zeYNOMw3nEpBxPhLB0j6eu2E9rAHrBVVpCDJsjB9SfrhiLfIe9DboNi9TpyPKmudkQ72pHcOTYJnJtxg/s1600-h/enhanced-buzz-10983-1255361464-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN7QxyTgQ3ahG6merw3b1I-SV_UTHFvq01WWEd7WObJJWNMnUdlTHcE58Zp7zeYNOMw3nEpBxPhLB0j6eu2E9rAHrBVVpCDJsjB9SfrhiLfIe9DboNi9TpyPKmudkQ72pHcOTYJnJtxg/s400/enhanced-buzz-10983-1255361464-9.jpg" /></a><br />
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<ul><li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789668621"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> C-span not showing speakers names, find them here > <a href="http://bit.ly/49sMT5" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789668621')" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F49sMT5" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/49sMT5</a> (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="lit" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?max_id=4795804396&page=3&q=pauloCanning#" onclick="decodeUrl(this); return false;">expand</a><img alt="" class=" pdcmsyanqwyrxwixacfd" src="http://search.twitter.com/images/search/expanding.gif?1255111538" style="display: none;" />) <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEMrally">#NEMrally</a></span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789589368">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/LauraAndRudy" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/LauraAndRudy')" target="_blank">@LauraAndRudy</a> WOW, Aiyi'nah Ford (co-host ListenUp internet radio program) is giving one HELL of a speech at <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> right now!! < she's FAB</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a> <span id="msgtxt4789513553">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/Ameriqueer" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/Ameriqueer')" target="_blank">@Ameriqueer</a> Just took a pic w/ Cynthia Nixon! <a href="http://twitpic.com/l4i4h" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789513553')" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=l4i4h" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/l4i4h</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEMrally">#NEMrally</a></span> </li>
<li class="result "><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789474587">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/jacobbrwr" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/jacobbrwr')" target="_blank">@jacobbrwr</a> Either the gays are in control of Twitter or the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> is actually a big deal. Either way, it's an exciting day < both :]</span></li>
<li class="result "><span id="msgtxt4789474587"> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789456596">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/ahideg" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/ahideg')" target="_blank">@ahideg</a> RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/dcconcierge" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/dcconcierge')" target="_blank">@dcconcierge</a> Now I'm marching at <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> with Lady GaGa (and her bodyguards)!!! <a href="http://twitpic.com/l4yl3" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789456596')" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=l4yl3" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/l4yl3</a></span><br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789388523">So many young people on stage @ <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> This is wonderful</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789343467">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/elideep" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/elideep')" target="_blank">@elideep</a> 'I say to Barney Frank, you are out of touch from the seat of power you hold.Does this march matter?' >earth-shaking cheers <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span> </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR_zwp5B0jXUMlrzAaLQixr6cU_CannQVOF2lmDA_hinZcBwGqzBVcm1UPVcB6nLKPb9pEAcIJ8rQLkZGnEjRmYzFUGq0AMzy2hDKtaSoTeGeL2QeGRBdjVy2GyOR3AOKobh59VWSMeA/s1600-h/enhanced-buzz-10990-1255359387-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR_zwp5B0jXUMlrzAaLQixr6cU_CannQVOF2lmDA_hinZcBwGqzBVcm1UPVcB6nLKPb9pEAcIJ8rQLkZGnEjRmYzFUGq0AMzy2hDKtaSoTeGeL2QeGRBdjVy2GyOR3AOKobh59VWSMeA/s400/enhanced-buzz-10990-1255359387-2.jpg" /></a><br />
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<ul><li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789302661">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/just_someguy" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/just_someguy')" target="_blank">@just_someguy</a> RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/toastedgrrl" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/toastedgrrl')" target="_blank">@toastedgrrl</a>: They just called out Barney Frank. <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a> - YES THEY SURE AS HELL DID! < Good!</span> <br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789288237"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NATIONAL">#NATIONAL</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23EQUALITY">#EQUALITY</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23DC">#DC</a> live now on C-Span <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789288237')" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx</a></span> <br />
</li>
<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789243705">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/bethannon" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/bethannon')" target="_blank">@bethannon</a> RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/LAmaleCA" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/LAmaleCA')" target="_blank">@LAmaleCA</a>: Fox News just estimated the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a> crowd at 2.5 million people. Congrats, guys! / SRSLY? FOX??</span> <br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789170395">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/veganindigo" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/veganindigo')" target="_blank">@veganindigo</a> beautiful RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/dsrbroadway" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/dsrbroadway')" target="_blank">@dsrbroadway</a> <a href="http://twitpic.com/l4oad" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789170395')" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=l4oad" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/l4oad</a> - There is an actual rainbow above us <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/broadwayimpact" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/broadwayimpact')" target="_blank">@broadwayimpact</a> AMAZING!!! <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NEM">#NEM</a></span><br />
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<li class="result "> <a href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/pauloCanning');" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twittername.iframe.html?twittername=pauloCanning" target="_blank">pauloCanning</a>: <span id="msgtxt4789127607">RT <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/LAmaleCA" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/to/LAmaleCA')" target="_blank">@LAmaleCA</a> <a href="http://twitpic.com/l55c1" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/exit/link/4789127607')" rel="http://s.bit.ly/preview.twitpic.iframe.html?twitpic_id=l55c1" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/l55c1</a> - in my lifetime our marriage was illegal too. <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23nem">#nem</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23NATIONAL">#NATIONAL</a> <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23EQUALITY">#EQUALITY</a> </span></li>
</ul>You can <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/11/HP/A/24091/National+Equality+March+in+Washington.aspx">watch the whole thing here</a> and I will add video highlights as I find them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="msgtxt4789127607"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VBEzBbhmxFSE4WWN2kh0wAak33pTNF6RvNGWPGJXF3xRs0_MLQGuqGiqcNf8bbHLX0k9x_i7_4Ch388QvV5fP6H2TQSS88JatBgSPErFexKeioC-qd6AV3Rw1_WrHqwiPdPaqPmDlko/s1600-h/6a00d83451c45669e20120a5da06ae970b-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VBEzBbhmxFSE4WWN2kh0wAak33pTNF6RvNGWPGJXF3xRs0_MLQGuqGiqcNf8bbHLX0k9x_i7_4Ch388QvV5fP6H2TQSS88JatBgSPErFexKeioC-qd6AV3Rw1_WrHqwiPdPaqPmDlko/s320/6a00d83451c45669e20120a5da06ae970b-800wi.jpg" /></a></span> <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span id="msgtxt4789127607" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Andrew Sullivan explains about this sign: 'It was made in 1965, four years before Stonewall, and the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattachine_Society" rel="wikipedia" title="Mattachine Society">Mattachine</a> heroes held it up in front of the White House on October 23 forty four years ago. Charles Francis brought it, and allowed me to hold it for a while. I am so proud to have been part of this movement, and so honored to touch one its sacred artefacts.'</b> </span> <br />
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<h3>UPDATE</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TcbpfmCZB8BN_sTaCdyxQGE0DtVMZft26suuWO6d7Qzfz82rselhluAU9RauB1QZvR9b5Cv1NGdGGxqcA9Q1Py2yoVlU1M-rsg58xna9j1iWfEfSy4IWC4pPoG04aHfdCQnRAj_Ls18/s1600-h/enhanced-buzz-10995-1255361585-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TcbpfmCZB8BN_sTaCdyxQGE0DtVMZft26suuWO6d7Qzfz82rselhluAU9RauB1QZvR9b5Cv1NGdGGxqcA9Q1Py2yoVlU1M-rsg58xna9j1iWfEfSy4IWC4pPoG04aHfdCQnRAj_Ls18/s400/enhanced-buzz-10995-1255361585-7.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Video from the day.<br />
<br />
Agree with Andrew Sullivan that this over-view of the day is "a little cheesy" but the visuals are great.<br />
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Cynthia Nixon asked 'What is the most important issue?'<br />
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The wonderful BRIT Billie Myers - "bisexual and fucking proud of it" - performs 'America the beautiful' with Dave Koz.<br />
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March organiser, Harvey Milk's friend, AIDS Quilt creator, Cleve Jones: "If you believe that you are equal then it is time to act like it."<br />
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The INCREDIBLE Jamaican-American poet Staceyann Chin: "We have to be willing to fight for more than what makes us comfortable because what makes us human is the acknowledgment of a universal humanity,"<br />
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Julian Bond leader of the NAACP, American Civil Rights Movement: "When I am asked 'are gay rights civil rights' my answer is always 'of course they are'."<br />
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<br />
Andrew Sullivan at the previous evening's HIV/AIDS MEMORIAL Ceremony at The National Equality March: "Seems that gay men are more interested in getting a glimpse of Lady GaGa than remembering 300,000 gay men who died. That makes me very sad."<br />
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Urvashi Vaid, long time activist: "We must be prepared to engage in a more profound battle, for the direction of this country."<br />
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Straight 18 yo young man Sam Sussman also spoke. He'd won the 'Equality Idol' contest by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ83qWSuhsI">submitting a YouTube video</a> stating the importance of equal rights for everyone. <br />
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The <a href="http://www.therightsideofhistory.org">Right Side of History Campaign</a> is a movement of young, inspired Americans who have joined together to heed Sam's call.<br />
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<object width="410" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LxhXAgB3LPY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LxhXAgB3LPY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="295"></embed></object><br />
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A big section of young, some very young, speakers opened the Rally. What an inspiring bunch they were.<br />
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<object width="410" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NqpTTBZxzUE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NqpTTBZxzUE&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="410" height="344"></embed></object>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-21763560602660625692009-10-11T11:12:00.002+00:002009-10-11T11:12:00.789+00:00Obama derangement syndromeAs always, perfect sense from Rachel Maddow on Obama's Nobel - it echoes my feelings about the shock announcement.<br />
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<div><iframe height="339" width="410" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/33249779#33249779" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 410px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br />
Michael Moore <a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/get-obamas-back-second-thoughts-michael-moore">has more to say</a> on exactly why Obama deserves the Nobel.paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-52141765049611256362009-10-11T01:19:00.006+00:002009-10-11T14:38:56.983+00:00"Don’t tell me to wait for my freedom"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5DZ4K0mN-Q-B4NEbwMwxfLE1_gJMYlhsRLZtDlUnUIVRLMQk_nzym7bnmpKFkEXvcb3DEMRiDTun5sbckPFOg8sXA1BVtWH-dm90FeKmSnLalRbcAP79woi4R8rsiuXeUapj0VdDYc0/s1600-h/art.obama.hrc.pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5DZ4K0mN-Q-B4NEbwMwxfLE1_gJMYlhsRLZtDlUnUIVRLMQk_nzym7bnmpKFkEXvcb3DEMRiDTun5sbckPFOg8sXA1BVtWH-dm90FeKmSnLalRbcAP79woi4R8rsiuXeUapj0VdDYc0/s400/art.obama.hrc.pool.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
During the campaign for the Democratic nomination Obama gave one interview to an LGBT publication in which he <a href="http://bit.ly/aFhXG" rel="http://bit.ly/plugins/iframe?hashUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FaFhXG">said the following</a>:<br />
<blockquote>Anybody who’s been at an LGBT event with me can testify that my message is very explicit -- I don’t think that the gay and lesbian community, the LGBT community, should take its cues from me or some political leader in terms of what they think is right for them. It’s not my place to tell the LGBT community, "Wait your turn." I’m very mindful of Dr. King’s “<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail" rel="wikipedia" title="Letter from Birmingham Jail">Letter From Birmingham Jail</a>,” where he says to the white clergy, "Don’t tell me to wait for my freedom."<br />
</blockquote>He repeated this point, as President, in <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/289399-1">his speech tonight</a> to the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://www.hrc.org/" rel="homepage" title="Human Rights Campaign">Human Rights Campaign</a>.<br />
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Here's <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/pauloCanning">my tweets</a> as I listened to his speech.<br />
<blockquote>pauloCanning: #hrc dinner "I love you Barack" "I love you back"<br />
pauloCanning:#hrc dinner Obama: "It is a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady GaGa"<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner He's referencing Stonewall as 'inspiring' <br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner simple message "here with you in that fight"<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'it's not for me to tell you to be patient' - as with civil rights - now I'm teary<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'you know - and I know - we don't want to be defined by one part of us that makes us whole'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'Do not doubt the direction we're heading +the destination we will reach'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'we will put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'we're pushing for a employee non-discrimination bill. we're ging to put a stop to it.'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'we are rescinding the ban on entering US based on HIV status'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'I will end DADT, that's my commitment to you'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'I've called on Congress to repeal DOMA'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'It's about our common humanity, our ability to walk in someone else's shoes'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner now he's talking about PFLAG 'that's the story of America'<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner 'tonight somewhere in America a young person ... ' THAT'S leadership<br />
pauloCanning: #hrc dinner brilliant rhetoric, worried by the look on his face<br />
</blockquote>The speech was amazing. Historic.<br />
<br />
Like the audience, who spent most of their time on their feet, I was really moved to hear a US President say what he said. His last flourish, which stuck progress of LGBT equality firmly into the mainstream of the 'American dream', I couldn't capture quickly enough. It was his classic rhetorical end flourish and he stuck it firmly onto the LGBT cause.<br />
<br />
My friend Tobias Grace, who edits New Jersey's LGBT newspaper, said: "Paul: I cried - not so much on my own behalf but thinking of all the young people who will grow up in a world shaped by this man's words and leadership." <br />
<br />
But, but ... perhaps that's why I noticed the look. He wasn't smiling. He knew that outside the cheering crowd he faced weren't just pissed LGBT at the lack of actual progress on issue after issue but a mountain of opposition to everything he'd pledged.<br />
<br />
Remember, this was the day on which he'd been awarded the Nobel. On what <i>he represents</i> he'd got that acknowledgment and that's a f*cking heavy burden.<br />
<br />
I wish I'd captured that exact look as he walked off the stage because it seemed to me one of a man who believed what he'd said, every word, but understood fully what 'change' actually means.<br />
<br />
A bitter, bitter fight lies behind "don’t tell me to wait for my freedom". As always, it's accompanied by the background/backroom faint (to some) buzz accompanying it in the LGBT movement between those who would be inside and those who'd be outside, demanding.<br />
<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/213759">Tomorrow's LGBT march</a> on the Capitol is for the demanders and something tells me Obama is with them.<br />
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Here's the speech.<br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/1123cf1a-49b6-46e6-8436-852e245d1a05/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1123cf1a-49b6-46e6-8436-852e245d1a05" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
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</div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-87599770190172565742009-10-10T10:29:00.002+00:002009-10-10T10:41:09.441+00:00'Common look and feel', rationalisation and egov success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVpKQg82CF73oEvvkF_4ihQ6sI2FjzNAXZza0Pqdlyizsg75puk7FVFztthJmWicXfQYlRf3IP0gN8U5ejfOkCk3Jm7LtNxFfh4_edPaURsMG_ufvqbegVHbRVTclpXFgmhf7Of2X4cQ/s400/bromsgrove.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.publicsectorforums.co.uk/">Public Sector Forums</a> (PSF)'s Ian Cuddy reports that Worcestershire's councils have <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/iancuddy/statuses/4741746266">gone with a 'common look and feel' policy</a> (aka 'standardised').<br />
<br />
In the Twitter conversation it's been pointed out that the common design <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/pluto9/statuses/4756523254">fails</a> some <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/julianscarlett/statuses/4742120339">standards</a> and a link to a policy document explaining what they've done in detail hasn't yet been found (Cuddy is planning a story for PSF on Worcestershire's move).<br />
<br />
Also mentioned thus far is the obvious link to rationalisation and savings: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://twitter.com/julianscarlett/statuses/4745893191">centralised web teams</a>. Also procurement savings on Content Management Systems (and is anyone really pitching the wonders of Wordpress at local councils was my thought).<br />
<br />
My first thought, though, was have they got the idea from the Singaporeans? People whose egov development is so good they are now <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.futuregov.net/articles/2009/jun/02/singapores-e-govt-model-exportable/">seriously trying to export how they do what they do</a>? <br />
<br />
Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada (and NASA) all have what's called a 'common look and feel' policy. This is a set of standards which all government websites are required to adhere to.<br />
<br />
Here's Canada's policy, interestingly run out of their Treasury department:<br />
<blockquote><b>Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet (<acronym title="Common Look and Feel Standards">CLF</acronym> 2.0)</b><br />
<br />
The<i> Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet</i> were approved by Treasury Board ministers on December 7, 2006 and are mandatory for all institutions represented in <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/F-11/index.html">Schedule I, I.1 and II of the <i>Financial Administration Act</i></a> with a two-year deadline ending December 31, 2008, for the conversion of existing sites. Web sites launched after January 1, 2007, must conform to the new standards.<br />
<br />
The Internet is an increasingly important communication tool providing an effective means for the public and the government to exchange information and for the government to offer its services in the official language and at the time and place of Canadians' choosing. The consistent and predictable presentation of government services and content offered by Common Look and Feel standards facilitate effective online interaction. <br />
</blockquote><blockquote>The new Common Look and Feel Standards for the Internet were developed to reflect modern practices on the Web, changes in technology and issues raised by the Web community over the past six years as well as to improve navigation and format elements. The standards were rewritten to eliminate duplication and conflict with other Treasury Board policy instruments and were reformatted to improve their structure and organization.<br />
<br />
The new standards comprise:<br />
<ul class="paddedList"><li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf2-nsi2/clfs-nnsi/clfs-nnsi-1-eng.asp">Part 1: Standard on Web Addresses</a></li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf2-nsi2/clfs-nnsi/clfs-nnsi-2-eng.asp">Part 2: Standard on the Accessibility, Interoperability and Usability of Web sites</a></li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf2-nsi2/clfs-nnsi/clfs-nnsi-3-eng.asp">Part 3: Standard on Common Web Page Formats</a></li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf2-nsi2/clfs-nnsi/clfs-nnsi-4-eng.asp">Part 4: Standard on Email</a></li>
</ul>Resources to implement <acronym title="Common Look and Feel">CLF</acronym> 2.0, including the template package, can be found in the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf2-nsi2/tb-bo/tbtoc-botdm-eng.asp">Toolbox</a>. A crosswalk table outlining the evolution of the policy requirements is also available on the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/clf2-nsi2/index-eng.asp">Common Look and Feel Web site</a>.<br />
</blockquote><br />
The Cabinet Office <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/e-government/resources/eaccessibility/exec_brief/recommendations.asp">when drawing up its guidance</a> (not 'standard', note) for government websites - Last Updated: 4/5/2007 - makes mention that EU policy has a recommendation for adoption of 'common look and feel' "in line with the Canadian model".<br />
<br />
But this is only placed within the context of accessibility. <br />
<br />
In my experience there is very little interaction between UK egov and the world outside and what there is is limited to the US and occasionally the EU. It's also my experience that the concept of a 'common look and feel' policy is <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&num=100&q=inurl%3A.gov.uk+%22common+look+and+feel+policy%22">practically unknown </a>(though <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=html&cd=14&ved=undefined&url=http%3A%2F%2F209.85.229.132%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcache%3A1SyYYNywBX0J%3Awww.northtyneside.gov.uk%2Fpls%2Fportal%2FNTC_PSCM.PSCM_Web.download%253Fp_ID%253D505223%2Binurl%3A.gov.uk%2B%2522common%2Blook%2Band%2Bfeel%2522%26cd%3D14%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk&ei=TGHQSuW2Oc_54Ab50vioAw&usg=AFQjCNEVJWe0a7X_wrhTDT1LGu6_nbomjg&sig2=GSstc0f5dQs4u8OVw9B7bw">not entirely unknown</a>).<br />
<br />
Why aren't we seeing examples from places like Canada, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20090309-127197.html">Singapore</a> and Hong Kong at UK egov seminars and conferences? Wouldn't it be useful for those in local government like those in Worcestershire to know that others have 'been there, done that' and 'worn', with justified pride, 'the teeshirt'?paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-32052646078766211502009-10-07T16:41:00.003+00:002009-10-15T16:45:45.757+00:00Text still rulesThis is a really excellent reminder of a web basic, which is unfortunately often forgotten as websites add and add and add and in the process become bloated.<br />
<br />
“Think of your Web audience as lazy, selfish and ruthless,” said Michael Gold, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.westgoldeditorial.com/">West Gold Editorial</a> principal quoting usability guru Jakob Nielsen’s apt description of today’s impatient, task-oriented Web audience during his remarks at a recent ONA panel. “Web audiences are on a mission—they’re task-oriented.”<br />
<br />
<object height="296" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6877117&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6877117&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="296"></embed></object><br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://vimeo.com/6877117">Text matters on the Web</a> from <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://vimeo.com/user1119244">Martin Ricard</a> on <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
Related posts of mine:<br />
<ul><li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2008/05/jakob-keep-cutting-those-word-counts.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keep cutting those word counts</a></li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2007/05/must-links-always-be-blue.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Must links always be blue</a></li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2007/04/simplicity-in-web-design.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simplicity in web design</a></li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2007/03/text-text-boring-text.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Text text boring text</a></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<b>HT</b>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://conference.journalists.org/">ONA</a>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-6397534101856114922009-10-05T18:02:00.000+00:002009-10-05T18:02:38.957+00:00Cute animals: Parrot shags human<object width="410" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9T1vfsHYiKY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9T1vfsHYiKY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="410" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Here's Mark Carwardine talking about the efforts to keep this species alive.<br />
<br />
<object width="410" height="436"><param name="movie" value="http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/external/player.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Flastchancetosee%2Fsites%2Fmarksblog%2Fplaylists%2Fblog05%5Fnew%5Fzealand%2Exml&config_settings_showFooter=true&"></param><embed src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/external/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="410" height="436" FlashVars="playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebbc%2Eco%2Euk%2Flastchancetosee%2Fsites%2Fmarksblog%2Fplaylists%2Fblog05%5Fnew%5Fzealand%2Exml&config_settings_showFooter=true&"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee">More from this fabulous BBC series</a>.paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-22442850418855271942009-10-04T17:43:00.000+00:002009-10-04T17:43:44.804+00:00'I feel like when I'm publishing a web page I'm an artist''A new 33.6kbps modem will move the internet much faster into your computer'<br />
<br />
<object width="410" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MLYvCI4pJaY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MLYvCI4pJaY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="344"></embed></object>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-81499931896251321562009-10-03T14:24:00.003+00:002009-10-10T11:02:40.195+00:00Daily Show archive blocked for UK: Channel Four display several layers of stupidUK fans of America's leading satirical TV show got a shock today when they discovered they could no longer view the show <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">on its website</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wlwTWKfQS4fvw7Klr1ZGMZsw7eLCOZB_fZpqh7JPPgYqhUlwJeAg5cOmOYGHr8fZR0C44HGGwzG-Vge-CJ__qTNdAXvUBJZOgFLQnbNVvCnXQ0RIMBFfO-UxiMkc72WdkiWowAC69qA/s1600-h/dailyshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wlwTWKfQS4fvw7Klr1ZGMZsw7eLCOZB_fZpqh7JPPgYqhUlwJeAg5cOmOYGHr8fZR0C44HGGwzG-Vge-CJ__qTNdAXvUBJZOgFLQnbNVvCnXQ0RIMBFfO-UxiMkc72WdkiWowAC69qA/s400/dailyshow.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The website has forums where overseas fans of the show have been venting their rage at the block. Not just UK viewers but those from Ireland who <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://forum.thedailyshow.com/tds/board/message?board.id=1118&thread.id=486&view=by_date_ascending&page=1">can no longer watch the show on the UK licensee Channel Four's website yet also remain blocked from watching it on the show's website</a>, apparently because C4 hasn't bothered to tell the Daily Show's channel, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://www.comedycentral.com/" rel="homepage" title="Comedy Central">Comedy Central</a>, that it's blocked the Irish. People in the rest of Europe have no such problems.<br />
<br />
There's no statement from either Channel Four or the show about this out-of-the-blue block but it appears from past Daily Show statements on their forum that they only do the blocking on the request of a country's license holder. Incidentally, I was able to leave a comment on their website and I see that the show's producers do respond to comment. Channel Four offers no such option, there is <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart">no comment space offered for the show</a> and they have no forum or <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.channel4.com/community/">similar space for viewers to talk back to them</a>.<br />
<br />
What is particularly sad/appalling about Channel Four's actions is that all online video from the extensive Daily Show online archive is now being blocked for UK - yet Channel Four is only showing the past week's shows online! Do they even have rights to episodes from before they started showing the Daily Show, because I can't watch clips from 2000.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHXGp8-DV5PEfW5Xd-8A98rFg1gvdnhH8iYHQtFH7C7fZOXkeIVO4KUmnjCNWTAP9xWWuGcFnljz3xcGAbxS8cJmHeU-5DkFaG-g8IPaAJvALUj6MGLS8tD7jAl5CStmu78vNbzC4Hek/s1600-h/dailyshow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHXGp8-DV5PEfW5Xd-8A98rFg1gvdnhH8iYHQtFH7C7fZOXkeIVO4KUmnjCNWTAP9xWWuGcFnljz3xcGAbxS8cJmHeU-5DkFaG-g8IPaAJvALUj6MGLS8tD7jAl5CStmu78vNbzC4Hek/s400/dailyshow1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
What is so stupid about this (and it has multiple layers of stupid) is that I have been posting clips on my blog which promotes the show Channel Four have rights to! Now none of those embedded clips work and so the show gets no (free) promotion from me or the many others who embed clips.<br />
<br />
When the Daily Show's sister program <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" rel="homepage" title="The Colbert Report">The Colbert Report</a> was being shown on a UK cable channel you couldn't watch clips on their website - but you could watch clips embedded on other websites. This makes complete sense as if you liked what you saw it promoted the cable channel's show and made it far more likely that you'd bother to subscribe to it. It also makes it appear that C4's block request included blocking embedded clips.<br />
<br />
At the same time that one bit of C4 takes this completely stupid action another makes clips from C4 news freely available, even ad free!<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's another stupidity. I have watched clips from US shows which have served up country specific ads. On sites like <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">HuffPost </a>I get UK ads. So if you can recognise I'm from the UK you can monetise it to the benefit of the UK license holder. Hardly rocket science.<br />
What C4 are doing is tragic for the Daily Show itself as it is going to lose a significant chunk of its UK audience. All - one would assume - in the name of driving viewers back to watching the show on More4 <b>ON TV</b>!<br />
<br />
I hope that the show's resident Brit, the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://at%20the%20same%20time%20that%20one%20bit%20of%20c4%20does%20this%20another%20makes%20clips%20from%20c4%20news%20freely%20available,%20even%20ad%20free./">hugely popular John Oliver</a>, learns about it and tells Channel Four to stop behaving like idiots.<br />
<br />
Of course people can watch Daily Show clips if they know how to get around the block by hiding their computer's ip address. This means C4 lose out on any hope of ad revenue. I won't even bother linking to how because a simple Google (or a look on the Daily Show's forums where they allow comments explaining how) will tell you what to do. So not only are C4 idiots but they think the rest of us UK fans of the show are too. <br />
<br />
<b>Addendum</b>: Tony Lee has commented on the cross-post of this on the Online Journalism blog that:<br />
<blockquote>Channel 4 denies the above. I wrote them and got the following response:<br />
<br />
Thank you for contacting us regarding THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART.<br />
<br />
We would advise that although we do indeed hold UK broadcast rights for the series, the overall rights to the series are owned by Comedy Central themselves. Content on their website, as with other American networks, is blocked to residents not in the US. These blocks are placed by the channel themselves, not Channel 4.<br />
<br />
It is the same with content on UK broadcasters website being blocked to those outside the UK. The reason for this is copyright and broadcasting licence terms.<br />
<br />
We would suggest that you therefore direct your complaint on this issue to Comedy Central. You can do so via the following link:<br />
<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml" target="_blank">http://www.comedycentral.com/<wbr></wbr>help/questionsCC.jhtml</a><br />
<br />
Channel 4 is not responsible for third-party websites.<br />
<br />
Thank you again for taking the time to contact us here at Channel 4 and for your interest in our programming.<br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
<br />
Rachel Salinger<br />
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries<br />
</blockquote>This is the exact opposite of what Comedy Central say on their forum - so I will post this statement there and see what they have to say for themselves. <br />
<br />
There is an actly petition:<br />
<blockquote>petition @ComedyCentral to lift the IP block for #dailyshow video online UK <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://act.ly/mr">http://act.ly/mr</a> RT to sign #actly<br />
</blockquote><b>Addendum two<br />
</b><br />
<br />
A fix has been posted on the Daily Show fan forum (ironically) <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://forum.thedailyshow.com/tds/board/message?board.id=support_2008_oct&message.id=2897#M2897" rel="nofollow">http://forum.thedailyshow.com/tds/board/message?board.id=support_2008_oct&message.id=2897#M2897</a> (and it works)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/0c6fd08d-a43a-4429-950f-8766b05ee901/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=0c6fd08d-a43a-4429-950f-8766b05ee901" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
</div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-9699928172147805692009-09-30T15:36:00.000+00:002009-09-30T15:36:50.285+00:00Video: Convergence and technology - Did You KnowThe latest version of the "<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/">Shift happens</a>" videos updated for autumn 2009, developed by <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XPLANE_%28company%29" rel="wikipedia" title="XPLANE (company)">XPLANE</a> in partnership with <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://mediaconvergence.economist.com/">The Economist</a>. This 'Did You Know' video focuses on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of these videos out there which throw stats at you, this is the best one I've seen yet. <br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="295" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C2jDOkzrVew&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C2jDOkzrVew&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="295"></embed></object><br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/2088c34f-5270-4a5c-be0b-a2bbb8a138f1/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2088c34f-5270-4a5c-be0b-a2bbb8a138f1" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-39454840750356130942009-09-29T12:49:00.001+00:002009-09-29T15:42:42.660+00:00The Eight Stages of GenocideCrossposted from my new outlet, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.cosmodaddy.com/">Cosmodaddy</a><br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B70d2Z9yago&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B70d2Z9yago&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="410"></embed></object><br />
<br />
How can we predict and prevent genocides? Greg Stanton outlines his groundbreaking theory on the eight stages of genocide: classification, symbolization, dehumanization, organization, polarization, preparation, extermination and denial.<br />
<br />
Genocide in <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Darfur" rel="wikipedia" title="War in Darfur">Darfur</a>, he argues, has proceeded through these stages before our eyes. Genocide could have been prevented by means of intervention at any one of a number of critical points in the past, but the international response has amounted to too little, too late.<br />
<br />
This has always been the case and I don't see this changing anytime soon, despite the best efforts of fantastic groups like <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/.../web-power-avaaz-beats-burmese-colonels.html">Avaaz</a> though groups like them remain our best hope, as does the work of people like Stanton who help people understand that - yes - things can be done and that genocide is not some 'natural, unstoppable force' like an earthquake or a tornado.<br />
<br />
One starting point would be for those responsible for doing nothing to be seen to learn lessons and admit their errors. For 'never again!' to mean anything, it's essential. This is why the campaign around Belgium, for example, to own up to <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_II_of_Belgium">its horrific history in the Congo</a> is so important, as important as for Serbia to own up to its role in the Balkan's genocides in the 90s.<br />
<br />
It's also close - very close - to home. This is from a post of mine last year about Hillary Clinton's claim that she tried to stop the Rwandan genocide.<br />
<br />
<b><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2008/03/rewriting-history-over-rwanda.html">Rewriting history over Rwanda</a></b><br />
<blockquote>The Americans weren't alone. The British, the French, the Belgians and much of the rest of Africa all either didn't do anything or actively stopped aid. They all looked for their own interests and none had any interest in stopping genocide.<br />
<br />
It was Britain's ambassador to the UN, Sir David Hannay, who proposed that the UN reduce its force. A year after the slaughter, the Foreign Office sent a letter to an international inquiry saying that it still did not accept the term genocide, seeing discussion on whether the massacres constituted genocide as "sterile". Then Ministers <b>John Major, Douglas Hurd, Malcolm Rifkind and Lynda Chalker have never even been asked about their role</b>.<br />
<br />
Virtually no-one emerges heroically (Canadian peacekeeper <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom%C3%A9o_Dallaire">Roméo Dallaire</a> is one and his view on Clinton's claims would be interesting to hear). In fact I would urge anyone to make themselves read the harrowing background as an object lesson in international power politics and its victims - a million of them in Rwanda. There's a <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.silent-edge.org/mt/rwanda/">blog which covers the 100 days </a>before and during the slaughter in detail. <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.amazon.com/People-Betrayed-Role-Rwandas-Genocide/dp/185649831X">'A People Betrayed' by Linda Melvern </a>is very good.<br />
<br />
For Hillary to now try to adopt that heroic mantle is, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-kleiman/hrc-and-rwanda-her-adv_b_90587.html">as commentators have noted</a>, worse than 'monstrous'.<br />
</blockquote>Almost - almost - as monstrous as <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/19/gordon_twitter/">this comment from Gordon Brown</a>:<br />
<div class="pluck-comment-body"><blockquote>"You cannot have Rwanda again because information would come out far more quickly about what is actually going on and the public opinion would grow to the point where action would need to be taken."<br />
</blockquote>Where is Twitter on the genocides happening right now in the DR of Congo? Or the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=820:solidarity-continues-to-grow-peru&catid=53:south-america-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=75">slaughter of indigenous people in Peru</a>? Where is Brown? Where is <i>Sarah </i>Brown!?<br />
<br />
Here is a <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://news.wtnrradio.com/story.php?story=13">list of the genocides taking place <b>now</b> in the world</a>.<br />
<br />
The media doesn't give a damn and, unfortunate but true, neither do most Twitter users.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><b>HT</b>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://domino1014.wordpress.com/">Domino</a><br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/f6421b58-a642-4928-9021-7c73c0d882bb/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f6421b58-a642-4928-9021-7c73c0d882bb" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
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</div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-23723652045080598102009-09-26T00:01:00.001+00:002009-09-26T00:06:57.313+00:00Why they are screaming 'socialism'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN5mpA6F-MIoshLmKhQnHzXKKrlquBal7CT5m4PZOOz7a1tOITC6ErcUJcW37jp4BW1ro256R6bTArVJ1d8VZsvDYRpbkL1uVdvmG5j6yKzwyxQ6oqLdIh-g07DOgJxr7WxFdKbVu2ek/s1600-h/6a00d83451c45669e20120a5970c6f970b-500wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN5mpA6F-MIoshLmKhQnHzXKKrlquBal7CT5m4PZOOz7a1tOITC6ErcUJcW37jp4BW1ro256R6bTArVJ1d8VZsvDYRpbkL1uVdvmG5j6yKzwyxQ6oqLdIh-g07DOgJxr7WxFdKbVu2ek/s400/6a00d83451c45669e20120a5970c6f970b-500wi.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.historycooperative.org/cgi-bin/justtop.cgi?act=justtop&url=http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/jah/91.1/dailey.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuDpPuy8Mcq3oy7NgAsh400lKs5zWp9tlzpTa8uJNyD2MeoMxk9TbKolZrk4OrhVMPhtBn1QzqJ5fEMKkmM0we1kn2VFrBGDyHlGLyJdrNA4j9DmRY8ww0NB4HtvFa0v7xpMixrcAGE0/s400/dailey_fig02b.gif" /></a><br />
</div><br />
A commentator to <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/">Andrew Sullivan's blog</a> gives some background on the right-wing American 'tea baggers' which is essential information for anyone wanting to understand WTF is going on.<br />
<br />
It's worth quoting in full:<br />
<blockquote>Of course they are screaming 'socialism'. They've been doing that since the 50s at least. They're not talking about economic redistribution of wealth - they never have been. They've been talking about redistribution of privilege this whole time. They called MLK a communist because he wanted blacks to have the same rights as whites, and to them that was a redistribution of the privilege that whites had 'earned'. <br />
<br />
In their view, white, Christian, heterosexuals have earned something that gays, non-Christians, and non-heteros have failed to work hard enough at. It's been a class war from the outset, just not one based around income or net worth - mostly because the whites in the south were economically pretty bad off and blacks in the north were catching up to them.<br />
<br />
This picture shows they were pushing the same buttons half a century ago that they are today. Anti-christ, communism - it's all the same as it is today and is well known code. It's why the protesters will decry socialism today but wouldn't have under Bush - it's all tied to race and other social objectives and has nothing really to do with taxation, deficits, and big government. You probably missed it when you came to the US, but this is pretty old game - particularly to guys like Carter that grew up around it.<br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXad8OZUKlU5yH0Jl48OxqtwK-tK1rDECEMbXaoRlPq-xjOf029FYg8jkD0gA6keeWnM3EdayXHLzDavvfvCluSoDpYsO-YAtZ17bW7I-JJouubZVGlqU5u3qdENCWFDcXOQSyJgxp-0/s1600-h/large_TAX-DAY-TEA-PARTY-protest-signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXad8OZUKlU5yH0Jl48OxqtwK-tK1rDECEMbXaoRlPq-xjOf029FYg8jkD0gA6keeWnM3EdayXHLzDavvfvCluSoDpYsO-YAtZ17bW7I-JJouubZVGlqU5u3qdENCWFDcXOQSyJgxp-0/s400/large_TAX-DAY-TEA-PARTY-protest-signs.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<b>Past posts: </b><br />
<ul><li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/us-health-debate-dangers-of-rhetoric.html">US health 'debate': the dangers of rhetoric and the need for responsibility</a> </li>
<li><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2009/09/daily-mail-has-joined-american-lunatic.html">Daily Mail has joined the American lunatic fringe</a></li>
</ul><h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-356859411784267812009-09-25T16:48:00.000+00:002009-09-25T16:48:09.082+00:00Seduced by huge c*ck..So.....what if you were restricted in the real world to only 140 Characters?<br />
<br />
<object height="295" width="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ezkxxpwPvic&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ezkxxpwPvic&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="295"></embed></object>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-56675791434057904242009-09-25T12:07:00.005+00:002009-09-25T12:12:59.791+00:00New Firefox add-ons<div class="zemanta-img" style="display: block; float: right; margin: 1em; width: 143px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Firefox-logo.svg"><img alt="Mozilla Firefox" height="127" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e3/Firefox-logo.svg/133px-Firefox-logo.svg.png" style="border: medium none; display: block;" width="133" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Firefox-logo.svg">Wikipedia</a></span><br />
</div>It's a while since I've done one of these and my add-ons have actually changed quite a bit.<br />
<br />
With the last Firefox major upgrade a number of them failed to update and others took ages to update. This now seems to have settled down but I have had to find replacements for a few that remain incompatible and for some I haven't found an easy replacement.<br />
<br />
<b>Gone are</b><br />
<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://mozmonkey.com/">TinyUrl Creator</a> · <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://amb.vis.ne.jp/mozilla/scrapbook/">ScrapBook</a> · <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://reminderfox.mozdev.org/">ReminderFox</a> · <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://menueditor.mozdev.org/">Menu Editor</a> · <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://johnny.ihackstuff.com/">Advanced Dork</a> · <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1864">Text/Plain</a> and one which I would like the functionality of but I haven't found a simple compatible replacement <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.kevinfreitas.net/extensions/linkchecker/">LinkChecker</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>New are</b><br />
<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10297">bit.ly preview</a><br />
With the bit.ly Preview Plugin for Firefox, whenever you hover over a bit.ly URL on any web page, we display a tooltip showing the Page Title, Long URL, and any Click Data we have about the page the URL links to. <br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4554" title="Learn more about this add-on">Extended Copy Menu</a> <span title="View Author's Profile"></span><br />
Provides the option to copy selection as plain text or html. <br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/9148">Fasterfox Lite</a><br />
Performance and network tweaks for Firefox, without the Enhanced Prefetching.<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://fireftp.mozdev.org/">FireFTP</a><br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.scribefire.com/">ScribeFire</a> <br />
A full-featured blog editor that integrates with your browser and lets you easily post to your blog. I may drop this and I hardly ever use it.<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.shareaholic.com/">Shareaholic</a> <br />
Shareaholic is the ultimate tool for sharing stuff with 60+ destination services including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Delicious, MySpace, Wordpress, and more!<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/">Shorten URL</a><br />
Shorten long URL from context menu or toolbar button with your selected URL shortener and display the result in location bar. <br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://mozilla.queze.net/">View Dependencies</a> <br />
Adds a tab listing dependencies and their sizes in the Page Info window.<br />
<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.zemanta.com/">Zemanta </a><br />
Contextually relevant suggestions of links, pictures, related content and tags will make your blogging fun again.<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/f061ebd1-ec01-458f-878a-01387575b07a/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f061ebd1-ec01-458f-878a-01387575b07a" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-78520346691132072092009-09-24T06:51:00.077+00:002009-09-24T15:04:28.312+00:00Bad user testing beats no user testing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2vhxsO11BcuqHw5I3EPR-Mb3sQsE3nrhSjgp7SIlFBcduE_-N78onBxufCwiKaQOvHLGcyOYIOQN1t8-8rtvYs-qv4dYG0R9PPLU-In_EvZg-LVkBiZJUrvlAy7rcEXR4bf4DmckfEk/s1600-h/usertests.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2vhxsO11BcuqHw5I3EPR-Mb3sQsE3nrhSjgp7SIlFBcduE_-N78onBxufCwiKaQOvHLGcyOYIOQN1t8-8rtvYs-qv4dYG0R9PPLU-In_EvZg-LVkBiZJUrvlAy7rcEXR4bf4DmckfEk/s320/usertests.png" /></a><br />
<br />
Jakob Nielsen has noted that <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/discount-usability.html">it's now twenty years since he started</a> what he calls the 'discount usability movement'.<br />
<br />
This might be egging it a wee bit, I'm not sure there is such a 'movement' apart from that which Nielsen promotes.<br />
<br />
It's true that major companies use discount usability tactics - I <a href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2008/08/big-org-goes-guerilla.html">noted before how last.fm used it</a> when their site went through major changes. But 'movement'?<br />
<br />
Moving on ...<br />
<br />
Nielsen presented a paper entitled "Usability Engineering at a Discount" at the 3rd International <a href="http://www.hci-international.org/">Conference on Human-Computer Interaction</a> in 1989.<br />
<br />
It was born out necessity, he says, as he simply didn't have the budget of the <a href="http://www.research.ibm.com/compsci/hci">IBM User Interface Institute</a> where he'd previously worked.<br />
<br />
The paper advocated three main components of discount usability: <br />
<ul><li><b>Simplified user testing</b>, which includes a handful of participants, a focus on qualitative studies, and use of the thinking-aloud method. Although thinking aloud had been around for years before I turned it into a discount method, the idea that <a class="old" href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000319.html" title="Alertbox: Why it's enough to test with 5 users">testing 5 users</a> was "good enough" went against human factors orthodoxy at the time. </li>
<li><b>Narrowed-down prototypes</b> — usually <a class="new" href="http://www.nngroup.com/reports/prototyping/" title="Nielsen Norman Group: training video on paper prototyping (32 minutes on DVD)">paper prototypes</a> — that support a single path through the user interface. It's much faster to design paper prototypes than something that embodies the full user experience. You can thus test very early and iterate through many rounds of design. </li>
<li><b>Heuristic evaluation</b> in which you evaluate user interface designs by <a class="old" href="http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/" title="Jakob Nielsen's papers on heuristic evaluation">inspecting them</a> relative to established usability guidelines. </li>
</ul>Nielsen says he was stoned in the market square as a heretic and I can well believe it.<br />
<br />
I had a similar experience when, discussing issues with LocalDirectgov's usability offering, I proposed that council web teams should use discount testing methods. This provoked nigh on outrage and a swipe at Nielsen by the usability company Nomensa. I like to think I moved them on from their initial horror to grudging agreement but you can make your own mind up in the debate, as it spilled over several posts and onto a Nomensa worker's blog.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2007/09/postscript-more-birth-pangs-of.html">Postscript: More birth pangs of government 2.0</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://paulcanning.blogspot.com/2007/03/usability-and-culture.html">Usability and culture</a></li>
<li><a class="l" href="http://alastairc.ac/2007/09/usability-myths-and-professionals/">AlastairC<i> - Usability</i> myths and professionals<br />
</a></li>
</ul>Nielsen even has the nerve, to some people's delicate sensibilities, to say:<br />
<blockquote>Discount usability often gives <b>better results</b> than deluxe usability because its methods drive an <b>emphasis on early and rapid iteration</b> with frequent usability input. <br />
</blockquote>As well as, the horror:<br />
<blockquote>Discount usability methods are robust enough to offer <b>decent results even when you don't use perfect research methodology</b>.<br />
</blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnZVkCYbew4xJVbQZY0yUQ_1Vkr71K7syaAcipKKmYEoWOlKuGsvecVr7rcpRA0A7t-JU54smMwnoPyCPntvwauvO_I16kYtRkeE0itEUwSjVT9ouplhUkzpGGIwXZwt4jSOOhwGfeZs/s200/guerilla-union_002.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnZVkCYbew4xJVbQZY0yUQ_1Vkr71K7syaAcipKKmYEoWOlKuGsvecVr7rcpRA0A7t-JU54smMwnoPyCPntvwauvO_I16kYtRkeE0itEUwSjVT9ouplhUkzpGGIwXZwt4jSOOhwGfeZs/s200/guerilla-union_002.jpg" style="float: right; height: 188px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In other words: Bad user testing beats no user testing, <b>every time</b>.</span><br />
<br />
He cites a team that ran a usability study of <i>MacPaint 1.7</i> (an early drawing program) in 1989 who each tested three users.<br />
<blockquote>Better usability methodology does lead to better results, at least on average. But the very best performance was recorded for a team that only scored 56% on compliance with best-practice usability methodology. And even teams with a 20–30% methodology (i.e., people who ran lousy studies) still found 1/4 of the product's serious usability problems. <br />
</blockquote>Nielsen claims that "my 20 years of campaigning for discount usability have certainly not been in vain, [but] I can't yet declare a win" — and nowhere is this more evident than in government, where cheap-but-effective methods of finding website errors would, you would think, have most resonance.<br />
<br />
Both the US (<a href="http://www.usability.gov/">usability.gov</a>) and UK (<a href="http://usability.coi.gov.uk/">usability.coi.gov.uk</a>) official government usability advice contain no reference to discount methods.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
Here's a presentation I gave on discount user testing called <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/paulcanning/cheapneasy-usability" title="Cheap'n'easy usability">Cheap'n'easy usability</a> first in 2006.<br />
<br />
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<div style="font-family: tahoma,arial; font-size: 11px; height: 26px; padding-top: 2px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/" style="text-decoration: underline;">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/paulcanning" style="text-decoration: underline;">Paul Canning</a>.<br />
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</div>paulocanninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17499916652508144662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048277695822533709.post-91570982295453207602009-09-23T16:21:00.006+00:002009-09-24T11:52:20.194+00:00PayPal still thinks Africa is the 'dark continent'<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="display: block; float: right; margin: 1em; width: 310px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PayPal_logo.svg"><img alt="PayPal Inc." height="80" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/PayPal_logo.svg/300px-PayPal_logo.svg.png" style="border: medium none; display: block;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PayPal_logo.svg">Wikipedia</a></span><br />
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I just got an email from a friend in Austria. Inspired by <a href="http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2009/08/in-shadows-too-long-one-of-kenyas-gay.html">a post on LGBT Asylum News</a> he wanted to make a donation to the Sex Workers Outreach Program (SWOP) in Nairobi.<br />
<blockquote>The people there are wonderful, and intelligent, and courageous and open-minded people indeed, and they deserve our help and solidarity. Tears are forming in my eyes when thinking of the women and men with HIV infection and AIDS living in poverty there.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
But my friend found out that whilst sending money via PayPal is possible for people in Kenya receiving money is not.<br />
<br />
When he contacted PayPal customer services by email they claimed that receiving money is not allowed by the legislation of Kenya. Yet he was able to send the money to Kenya via Western Union — for the transmission of Euro 100 he had to pay a fee of Euro 17,50 which is far higher than PayPal's charges. <br />
<br />
Jonathan Gosier, a software developer, writer and social entrepreneur, <a href="http://appfrica.net/blog/2009/09/07/paypals-electronic-profiling/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paypals-electronic-profiling">explains on appafrica</a> how:<br />
<blockquote>PayPal, intentional or not, are sending a very strong message to the rest of the world about Africa.<br />
</blockquote>Prior to moving to Uganda, Gosier had used PayPal for four years and estimates that he's transferred over $100,000 during that time<br />
<br />
Bu this counted for nothing once he'd moved to 'the dark continent'. <br />
<blockquote>Apparently PayPal’s way of ‘policing’ their service is to simply flag various IP addresses as being ’suspect’ . hrmm. I have a few Iranian and Indian friends who could tell you a bit about what it’s like to get profiled based on where you appear to be from. (And if they won’t suffice as anecdotal evidence, I’ve got a few million mexican and black american friends who’d double down on the sentiment.) <br />
<br />
So Africa remains a high-risk zone as the sheer number of comments like these from paypal users indicates:<br />
<br />
<i>I am in the process of trying to sell a laptop. i have posted ads on comtrader and ebay. So far the item has been bought off ebay by a mother who wants its for a present for her daughter in AFRICA. Two people have expressed interest through comtrader, one wishes to buy it for a business associate in AFRICA, and the other wants it for himself, and guess where he lives….. AFRICA. Sorry for all the capitals, but am i missing something here. I’ve replied to the ebay purchaser who is going to pay through Paypal, which i know is covered by ebay so i feel safest. Just wondering if this obsession with me posting it to AFRICA is anything i should be sketchy about.</i><br />
<br />
Or this person’s thoughtful reply:<br />
<br />
<i>Anything from africa is a scam so stay well clear. Re-list the item if you have too.</i><br />
<br />
Wow. Anything from Africa is a scam. I better take back this computer I just bought from GAME!<br />
<br />
The unintentional effect here is that by blanketing the whole region as suspect, it reduces the number of viable alternatives for legitimate businesses and professionals who want to use services like PayPal for trade. I use PayPal for some of my payroll now (for people who don’t live near me). However, whenever I do, PayPal flags my account and shuts it down temporarily ‘because I accessed it from a suspicious location’. To unlock it I have to call them, from Uganda and do a bunch of other stuff that’s inconvenient. I suppose this is the price of admission for using the service in country it wasn’t intended to be used in. So no complaint here either.<br />
<br />
But what it does mean, is that from every angle legitimate African businesses are smacked in the face by measures put in place to police the one’s that are indeed abusing the system. But this affects even expatriates and NGOs that might want to use the service. If it’s accessed from a certain IP there’s a red flag, especially if that IP is not where you registered to use the service.<br />
</blockquote><blockquote>Once again, the message perpetuated here is to be cautious when dealing with Africans, Africa or anything you suspect of being related to the aformentioned. This is nothing new. Most people here have been dealing with such mentality their whole lives, why would it stop now that the medium has changed? To be fair, there’s truth to this stereotype. There is indeed a huge problem of scams here. There is some truth to most stereotypes, the word itself simply implies that those truths are applied where they don’t necessarily belong.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people here who are just like consumers everywhere else in the world. They want to buy things, they want the conveniences of online shopping, they want to do business…and they want their neighbors to stop scamming you so they can have those things.<br />
</blockquote><blockquote>I realize that the problem can’t be solved entirely by Paypal alone but I would appreciate at least an option to flag my account in advance for what might be mistaken for ’suspicious activity’. I’d be happy to leave this to PayPal’s discretion but my problem is they aren’t using any. African transaction? Banned! Banks will allow customers to indicate that they will be abroad for a certain period so that they don’t shutdown accounts by mistake. Why doesn’t PayPal? You’d be surprised at how damaging these blanket policies can be to an organization like mine that simply just wants to pay employees and be paid by clients.<br />
<br />
I suppose the complaint is that PayPal doesn’t give me an option to avoid my account getting bricked. It costs me money everytime they do it. they give me no alternative to prevent it from happening and when I talk to them, somehow it’s my fault for existing ‘in that country where The Last King of Scotland took place‘.<br />
</blockquote>My Austrian friend says:<br />
<blockquote>To me this is a kind of discrimination, and neo-colonialism, and racism towards African people, and it reminds me of the inhuman politics of the pharmaceutical industries not to reduce their prices for medicaments for HIV and AIDS in poor countries, but to accept the death of lots of people who could not afford these high prices. If you are living in a rich country of the European Union you survive, if you are a poor woman and a poor man in Africa you die. We must not accept it!<br />
</blockquote>I thought of his experience and Gosier's whilst reading about the coming of broadband to East Africa (which includes Uganda) via the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2008/connected_africa/default.stm">BBC's excellent series of reports</a>. <br />
<br />
This did warn of and catalogue the whole raft of other challenges to Africans other than the lack of broadband, which puts its arrival in context, but they missed this one.<br />
<br />
Theresa Carpenter Sondjo notes that there are <a href="http://appfrica.net/blog/2009/09/09/paypal-alternatives-for-african-entrepreneurs/">alternatives for African entrepeneurs to PayPal</a>, however they are all more "more expensive and less flexible". That seems to be a running theme for Africa - lots of stuff to build a business is way more expensive, Africans have a stack of hurdles to jump over.<br />
<br />
Maybe Oxfam, Mr Bono and Mr Geldof should get onto this one and start shaming PayPal? <br />
<br />
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